Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection December 12, 2024
Second Week of Advent
12th December 2024 (Thursday)
Psalter: Week 2
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Isaiah 41:13-20
For I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, “fear not, I will help you.” Fear not, O worm Jacob, you maggot Israel; I will help you, says the LORD; your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. I will make of you a threshing sledge, sharp, new, and double-edged, to thresh the mountains and crush them, to make the hills like chaff. When you winnow them, the wind shall carry them off and the storm shall scatter them. But you shall rejoice in the LORD; and glory in the Holy One of Israel. The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain, their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open up rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the broad valleys; I will turn the desert into a marshland, and the dry ground into springs of water. I will plant In the desert the cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive; I will set in the wasteland the cypress, together with the plane tree and the pine, That all may see and know, observe and understand, That the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Psalm 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13ab (R. 8)
R/. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Saviour.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew 11:11-15
Jesus said to the crowds: “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Thursday – Second Week of Advent
Guidelines: For those who trust in God, life is never a loss or misery, but is ever a rediscovery of hope and joy
1. “Listen then if you have ears”, so ends Jesus today’s gospel passage. Yes, we need the inner ear of faith to constantly listen to what God ceaselessly repeats into our ears. Endlessly he drills into our hearts of how much he loves and cares for us, how much he assures us and instills confidence and courage into us.
2. The very same words that he pronounces through his prophet Isaiah to his people, are repeated today to all of us as well: “I am the Lord, your God. I strengthen you and tell you, do not be afraid; I will help you”.
3. He knows that we are small and weak. He knows that our enemies, the evil forces are strong, violent and oppressing and frightening. But it is not our strength that will be in act. It is his unsurpassable power that will prevail over all the hostile forces.
4. He will change dry land into flowing springs, and deserts into pools of water, and barren land into forest. These are God’s promises. They are never empty or shallow or unreliable like those of men or many leaders.
5. He says to the people of Israel: Fear not, I am your assistance. I will make you a thresher, new and with sharp double teeth. You will thresh hills and mountains, crushing them and reducing them to chaff. You will winnow them.
6. These words apply exactly to John the Baptist. Like Elijah, he lives as a true prophet, passionate, courageous and faithful. He urges people to repent and to be converted. But from our part, what is needed is to understand this and do our part in humility, courage and dutifulness like him.
Practice: We are really blessed that we are rated even greater than John the Baptist himself, the greatest born of women, if only we strive sincerely on behalf of the kingdom of God.
