Readings for Monday of the First Week of Advent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Isaiah 2:1-5
This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,
saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come,
The mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
That he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.”
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
One nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the LORD!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Is 2:1-5
Isaiah speaks of his vision of the messianic kingdom to come where Judah and Israel are united and peace abounds in the entire kingdom. The symbolism of the mountain of the Lord – or “High Place” is an ancient reference to the place close to where God dwells. The “highest mountain” meaning that all other beliefs become subservient to the One God. He sees the unity of all the nations under one God and one Messiah. In the final verse the prophet implores the faithful of the house of Jacob (the Israelites) to fulfill his vision quickly.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my relatives and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you!"
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9
Supporting Isaiah’s vision of the messianic kingdom, this psalm of praise points also to Jerusalem as the center and source the Law. It also adds David as the dynasty of this unified kingdom with the Lord our God providing the source of peace.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 8:5-11
When he (Jesus) entered Capernaum,
a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,
“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”
He said to him, “I will come and cure him.”
The centurion said in reply,
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word and my servant will be healed.
For I too am a man subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes;
and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes;
and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
“Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 8:5-11
This story of the Centurion is shortened by a couple verses to focus our attention on the authority of Jesus and the role faith can play in accessing that authority. The Centurion’s description of his own understanding of authority translates to his faith that Jesus can command all things without needing to move. In the longer version, Jesus also condemns the Jewish people for their lack of faith and heals the Centurions servant as requested.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
The first candle of the Advent Wreath has been lit. (The first one is traditionally purple and signifies hope.) In this week we hear Isaiah the great prophet who has a vision of the kingdom that will come. He sees the beacon of truth that is the Messiah shining out so that all peoples in the world will see the love of God and the promise of eternal salvation.
We feel in the vision of Isaiah his own yearning and hope for the unity and peace of that time. It is the reason he came – to point to God’s unifying love and call all those he could reach to come and rejoice in the divine revelation of God’s mercy. But not everyone will share his vision. Not everyone, even those in seats of authority will understand the message. He will find this out later and will have his own share in the suffering of the one whose coming he predicts.
Jesus, in the story of the Centurion’s Servant, recognizes the power of faith, founded on hope. The centurion recognizes in Christ the authority over life (and death). He calls upon him as a soldier, confident that Christ orders will be obeyed. In him, however, Christ sees the underlying virtue of faith. Faith that God’s love will be given when asked, even to one who is not of “the chosen people”. That is why Jesus is amazed. He sees one who has already traveled far down the path to salvation, without even understanding the crushing weight of the Law and the Prophets that serve as his foundation and to which he come fulfilling.
The message for us becomes clear as we see the virtue of the Centurion who is filled with hope because of his faith. Our challenge this Advent Season is to reach out for the same faithful response. When we begin to worry that this season will be tarnished by an economy that seems determined to spoil things – have hope. Christ did not come so we could demonstrate the power of wealth to create happiness. He came so that we might understand that there is more to the season than things. The centurion did not come to Jesus because, in doing so he would somehow heap accolades upon himself. He came humbly asking for intercession.
Our prayer for this day is that the hope symbolized by our first candle will fill us with peace and from that radiant warmth; others might be comforted as well. We pray especially for those who are struggling even to eat and stay warm. May our generosity and that of our brothers and sisters in Christ demonstrate what hope in the Lord can do.
Pax
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Isaiah 2:1-5
This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,
saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come,
The mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
That he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.”
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
One nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the LORD!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Is 2:1-5
Isaiah speaks of his vision of the messianic kingdom to come where Judah and Israel are united and peace abounds in the entire kingdom. The symbolism of the mountain of the Lord – or “High Place” is an ancient reference to the place close to where God dwells. The “highest mountain” meaning that all other beliefs become subservient to the One God. He sees the unity of all the nations under one God and one Messiah. In the final verse the prophet implores the faithful of the house of Jacob (the Israelites) to fulfill his vision quickly.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my relatives and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you!"
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9
Supporting Isaiah’s vision of the messianic kingdom, this psalm of praise points also to Jerusalem as the center and source the Law. It also adds David as the dynasty of this unified kingdom with the Lord our God providing the source of peace.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 8:5-11
When he (Jesus) entered Capernaum,
a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,
“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”
He said to him, “I will come and cure him.”
The centurion said in reply,
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word and my servant will be healed.
For I too am a man subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes;
and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes;
and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
“Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 8:5-11
This story of the Centurion is shortened by a couple verses to focus our attention on the authority of Jesus and the role faith can play in accessing that authority. The Centurion’s description of his own understanding of authority translates to his faith that Jesus can command all things without needing to move. In the longer version, Jesus also condemns the Jewish people for their lack of faith and heals the Centurions servant as requested.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
The first candle of the Advent Wreath has been lit. (The first one is traditionally purple and signifies hope.) In this week we hear Isaiah the great prophet who has a vision of the kingdom that will come. He sees the beacon of truth that is the Messiah shining out so that all peoples in the world will see the love of God and the promise of eternal salvation.
We feel in the vision of Isaiah his own yearning and hope for the unity and peace of that time. It is the reason he came – to point to God’s unifying love and call all those he could reach to come and rejoice in the divine revelation of God’s mercy. But not everyone will share his vision. Not everyone, even those in seats of authority will understand the message. He will find this out later and will have his own share in the suffering of the one whose coming he predicts.
Jesus, in the story of the Centurion’s Servant, recognizes the power of faith, founded on hope. The centurion recognizes in Christ the authority over life (and death). He calls upon him as a soldier, confident that Christ orders will be obeyed. In him, however, Christ sees the underlying virtue of faith. Faith that God’s love will be given when asked, even to one who is not of “the chosen people”. That is why Jesus is amazed. He sees one who has already traveled far down the path to salvation, without even understanding the crushing weight of the Law and the Prophets that serve as his foundation and to which he come fulfilling.
The message for us becomes clear as we see the virtue of the Centurion who is filled with hope because of his faith. Our challenge this Advent Season is to reach out for the same faithful response. When we begin to worry that this season will be tarnished by an economy that seems determined to spoil things – have hope. Christ did not come so we could demonstrate the power of wealth to create happiness. He came so that we might understand that there is more to the season than things. The centurion did not come to Jesus because, in doing so he would somehow heap accolades upon himself. He came humbly asking for intercession.
Our prayer for this day is that the hope symbolized by our first candle will fill us with peace and from that radiant warmth; others might be comforted as well. We pray especially for those who are struggling even to eat and stay warm. May our generosity and that of our brothers and sisters in Christ demonstrate what hope in the Lord can do.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used today is “Healing the Centurion’s Servant” by Alexandre Bida, c. 1875
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana
[4] Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved
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