Daily Reading & Reflection: Thursday (December 11): "He is Elijah who is to come"

First Reading

Isaiah 41:13-20

13For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I will help you." 14Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I will help you, says the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. 15Behold, I will make of you a threshing sledge, new, sharp, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff; 16You shall winnow them and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them. And you shall rejoice in the LORD; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory. 17When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. 18I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. 19I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together; 20that men may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.

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Responsorial Psalm

Psalms 145:1, 9-13

1I will extol thee, my God and King, and bless thy name for ever and ever. 9The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made. 10All thy works shall give thanks to thee, O LORD, and all thy saints shall bless thee! 11They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and tell of thy power, 12to make known to the sons of men thy mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of thy kingdom. 13Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.

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Gospel

Matthew 11:11-15

11Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force. 13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John; 14and if you are willing to accept it, he is Eli'jah who is to come. 15He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 

 

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REFLECTION

 

In what ways have I experienced God’s help?

Lord, I know you are always helping me in many ways. Help me to see where you have calmed my fears. Grant me the courage to seek your help and the fortitude to accept it. Without your help my fears will overcome me.Amen