Daily Readings - Mon Dec 04 2023
Isaiah
1This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:2In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.3Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.4He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.5Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Matthew
5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.6"Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering."7Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."8The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."10When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.13Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of faith, trust, and the universal call to God’s kingdom. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vision of a future where all nations stream to the mountain of the Lord, seeking his ways and living in peace. Swords are beaten into plowshares, and war is no more. This is a messianic vision, a hope for a world transformed by God’s presence and law. It speaks to a time when humanity, tired of conflict and division, turns to the Lord for guidance and harmony. The context is one of longing for a world at peace, where God’s light shines brightly for all to see.
The Gospel continues this theme with the story of the centurion, a Roman soldier, who approaches Jesus with humility and faith. Despite his position of authority, the centurion recognizes his unworthiness and trusts completely in Jesus’ power to heal his servant. His faith is remarkable because he is not a Jew, yet he believes in Jesus’ authority. Jesus praises his faith and heals the servant instantly. This story shows us that God’s kingdom is not limited to one people or place; it is universal. The centurion’s faith is an example for us, teaching us to trust in God’s power and to recognize that his love and mercy extend to all people.
These readings call us to reflect on our own faith and trust in God. Like the centurion, we are called to approach God with humility and confidence, knowing that he can do great things in our lives. The vision from Isaiah reminds us that we are part of a larger story, a story of God’s plan to bring all people together in peace and unity. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to live with the kind of faith that sees beyond the present moment, trusting in God’s plan. May we, like the centurion, be open to the universal call of God’s kingdom and work toward a world where all people can walk in the light of the Lord.