Reading 1 Is 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!
Responsorial Psalm Ps 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.
Gospel Mt 8:5-11
When 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."
Meditation: Isaiah 2:1-5
Come, let us climb … to the house of the God of Jacob.” (Isaiah 2:3)
Have you ever seen a building so massive that it took up your whole field of vision? Well, picture one even bigger than that, and you can imagine what Isaiah saw. In a vision, he described the house of the Lord as being so big that it could shelter entire populations. “Many peoples” were streaming toward this house, where they would receive counsel and instruction. Here they could find peace. It may not have been an easy road, but they were willing to take the journey.
God is extending this same invitation to you this Advent: “Come to my house!” He wants you to go out and meet him—in prayer, in the Scriptures, in the Blessed Sacrament, and in your community.
Yes, your heavenly Father wants to help you mold your “swords” into plowshares. He wants to help you put aside any weapons you may resort to when tension or conflict arise: bitterness, sarcasm, isolation, and accusation. He wants you to take all the energy you once spent on these and use it instead to sow seeds of peace and unity. So come to his house, and let him help you.
Now think about today’s Gospel reading, and put yourself in the shoes of this noble centurion. Jesus is listening intently to you as you bring your needs to him. Don’t hesitate to tell him what you want; you have his full attention! And what does he say in response? “I will come” (Matthew 8:7). In this Gospel reading, Jesus isn’t waiting for you to climb to his lofty home; he is coming to yours! He comes to bring healing and peace.
These contrasting images of God reveal a beautiful truth. God is inviting you to be with him where he is, even as he offers to come into your heart. In other words, he is promising that as you take one step toward him, he will take a thousand steps toward you. That’s how committed he is to you. That’s how deeply he wants to pour his grace and peace into your heart.
So what do you want Jesus to do for you this Advent? Just ask, and he will come!
“Lord, I accept your invitation. Come closer!”
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