Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 2, 2021
First Reading: Isaiah 26.1-6
1In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts.2Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith.3You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.4Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.5He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low; he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust.6Feet trample it down- the feet of the oppressed, the footsteps of the poor.
Psalm 118
1Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.2Let Israel say: "His love endures forever."3Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever."4Let those who fear the LORD say: "His love endures forever."5In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.6The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?7The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.8It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.9It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.10All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.11They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.12They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off.13I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me.14The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.15Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!16The LORD's right hand is lifted high; the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"17I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.18The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.19Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.20This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter.21I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.22The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;23the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.24This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.25O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success.26Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.27The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.28You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.29Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Gospel: Matthew 7.21, 24-27
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of true faith and its practical implications in our lives. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a beautiful canticle of trust and hope in God’s providence. The prophet describes a city of strength, Zion, where the just and the faithful enter through the gates, trusting in God’s promise of peace. This passage is set in a time of uncertainty and threat for the people of Judah, but Isaiah reminds them that true security comes not from human strength but from reliance on the Lord. The old errors and false securities of the world will pass away, but those who trust in God will endure.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us that merely calling him “Lord” is not enough to enter the kingdom of heaven. What matters is doing the will of the Father. He illustrates this with the parable of the wise and foolish builders. The wise builder, who hears Jesus’ words and acts on them, constructs his house on rock, and it stands firm against the storms of life. The foolish builder, who hears but does not act, builds on sand, and his house collapses. This teaching emphasizes that faith must be lived out in action. It is not enough to listen to God’s word; we must allow it to shape our decisions and guide our lives.
These readings are deeply connected. Isaiah’s call to trust in God and Jesus’ call to act on His teachings are two sides of the same coin. Trusting in God leads us to live according to His will, which is the foundation of a life that endures through life’s challenges. In our daily lives, this means prayerfully seeking God’s will and then having the courage to act on it, even when it is difficult. Let us ask ourselves: Am I building my life on the rock of God’s word, or am I settling for the shifting sands of the world? May we strive to be wise builders, trusting in God’s providence and living out our faith with integrity and love.