Gospel Reflection for The 2nd day of December in the year of Our Lord, 2024
Gospel
Matthew 8:5-11
5 And when he had entered into Capharnaum, there came to him a centurion, beseeching him,
6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, and is grieviously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith to him: I will come and heal him. 8 And the centurion making answer, said: Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof: but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I also am a man subject to authority, having under me soldiers; and I say to this, Go, and he goeth, and to another, Come, and he cometh, and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 And Jesus hearing this, marvelled; and said to them that followed him: Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israel.
11 And I say to you that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
Today's first reading is particularly beautiful and is explained by the Gospel:
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!
The Centurion in today's Gospel is a type of the gentiles and pagans who would soon make up the majority of Christians. Jesus established a new Church and a new religion, founded on Saint Peter. The new religion is firmly rooted in Judaism, but no longer were the promises of God exclusive to the Jewish people. All peoples of all nations were given a new covenant, new promises through Christ and are welcome in the Catholic Church... Catholic meaning universal.
The Catholic Church is the new Jerusalem, the shining city set upon a hill, visible for all ages. No government or other human institution has lasted even a fraction as long as the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. All peoples from all nation have their home in the Catholic Church. Every languages is spoken, every race and ethnicity, every person no matter how flawed and fallen can find salvation in the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is the Lord's Mountain!
Judson Carroll is the author of several books, including his newest, A Daily Catholic Devotional, Reflections on the Daily Mass Readings January-June, 2025 It is Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK3M1WDZ
and
Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith. It is also Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK
His new podcast is The Uncensored Catholic https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-uncensored-catholic
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