Daily Readings for December 7, 2017

1ST READING

Ultimate justice is in the hands of God alone. It is He who will preside over Judgment Day. Should you be scared by this thought? Not if you constantly seek to live a just and generous life. It seems that God never forgets a cheerful giver; in fact, He seems to bless them more for their generosity.

Isaiah 26:1-6

1 On that day, they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us. 2 Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith. 3 A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you.” 4 Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock. 5 He humbles those in high places, and the lofty city he brings down; He tumbles it to the ground, levels it with the dust. 6 It is trampled underfoot by the needy, by the footsteps of the poor.

P S A L M

Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27

R: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. (R) 19 Open to me the gates of justice; I will enter them and give thanks to the Lord. 20 This gate is the Lord’s; the just shall enter it. 21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior. (R) 25 O Lord, grant salvation! O Lord, grant prosperity! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord. 27 The Lord is God, and he has given us light. (R)

GOSPEL

  

If we build our lives on the promises of the world to us, then we will be greatly disappointed. It is the Word of God that holds the promise of eternal life, not the world. It is up to us to choose to whom we will entrust our lives. The wise man will always seek out the ways and will of God; the fool will look elsewhere. Let us look in the right places and not the wrong ones.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call him while he is near.

Matthew 7:21, 24-27

21 Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 24 “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 26 And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”