Daily Readings - Thu Dec 05 2024
Isaiah
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.
Matthew
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 foundation of our faith and the trust we place in God. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a canticle of hope and trust in the Lord, who is described as the ultimate source of strength and salvation. The prophet speaks of a city secure in God’s protection, where the just and the poor find refuge. This passage reminds us that our true security lies not in human strength or earthly power but in the Lord, who bends down to the lowly and lifts them up. Isaiah’s words are a call to hope and perseverance, especially in times of uncertainty.
In the Gospel, Jesus emphasizes the importance of living out our faith in action. He warns that not everyone who claims to follow Him will enter the kingdom of heaven; only those who do the will of His Father. Jesus then illustrates this with the parable of the two builders—one wise and one foolish. The wise builder constructs his house on rock, symbolizing a life rooted in God’s teachings, while the foolish builder chooses sand, representing a life without a firm spiritual foundation. Jesus’ message is clear: our words and professions of faith mean little unless they are accompanied by deeds that reflect His will.
These readings remind us that faith must be lived out in trust and action. Like the wise builder, we must ground our lives in the teachings of Christ, allowing His words to shape our decisions and guide our actions. In a world that often values power and wealth, Isaiah’s vision of a humble and trusting people challenges us to prioritize the lowly and the marginalized. As we navigate the challenges of daily life, let us build our lives on the rock of God’s love and justice, trusting that He will see us through even the most turbulent storms. In doing so, we become not only hearers of the word but doers, living out the Gospel in a way that reflects the kingdom of heaven.