Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 7, 2022
First Reading: Isaiah 40.25-31
25"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.26Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.27Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"?28Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.29He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.30Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;31but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Psalm 103
1Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.2Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-3who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,4who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,5who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.6The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.7He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:8The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.9He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;10he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;12as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.13As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;14for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.15As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;16the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.17But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-18with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.19The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.20Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.21Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.22Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
Gospel: Matthew 11.28-30
Sermon
In today's readings, we find a profound message of hope and trust in God's providence. The first reading from Isaiah 40:25-31 reminds us of God's incomparable power and care. Speaking through the prophet, God asks, "To whom would you compare me?" emphasizing His uniqueness and might. He leads the stars by number and names each, showing meticulous care over creation. Addressing Jacob and Israel, God comforts them, reminding them that even when they feel hidden or unnoticed, His presence endures. The passage concludes with a promise: those who hope in the Lord will find renewed strength, soaring like eagles.
In the Gospel, Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus invites the weary and burdened to come to Him for rest. He offers His yoke, promising it is easy and His burden light. This invitation contrasts the heavy loads we often carry with the gentle leadership of Christ, who models meekness and humility. Both readings connect through themes of trust and rest, encouraging us to surrender our burdens to God.
Applying this to our lives, we all face weariness and burdens. The readings urge us to turn to God, trusting in His care and finding rest in Him. The moral lesson is one of trust and surrender, recognizing that true strength comes from humility and reliance on God. Let us seek God's rest and trust in His providence, especially in times of fatigue, embracing the hope and renewal He offers.