Monday of the 1st Week of Advent

Monday December 1, 2025

Daily Mass Readings for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent

First Reading – Isaiah 2:1-5: Isaiah prophesies a future where the Lord’s mountain is the world’s pinnacle, attracting all nations for divine guidance. War will cease, as people embrace God’s path of peace.
First Reading (Alternative for Lectionary Year A) – Isaiah 4:2-6: The Lord will bring glory and honor to the survivors in Israel. Jerusalem, cleansed and sanctified, will be protected by God’s presence, offering shelter and refuge always.

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 122: I rejoice in going to the Lord’s house in Jerusalem, a city of unity and pilgrimage. We give thanks there and seek peace and prosperity for Jerusalem, praying for its welfare.
Gospel – Matthew 8:5-11: In Capernaum, a centurion’s faith in Jesus’ healing power for his paralyzed servant astonished Jesus. He marveled at the centurion’s understanding of authority and faith without needing Jesus’ physical presence. Jesus highlighted this faith as exemplary, foreseeing many from afar joining the patriarchs in God’s kingdom.

Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.
Matthew 8:8

Themes for the Readings for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent

Monday of the 1st Week of Advent focuses on themes of anticipation and faith. Isaiah speaks of peace and unity, while Matthew tells the story of the centurion’s faith. Both readings point to the hope and trust we should have in God as we begin this Advent season.

Hope for Peace: Isaiah speaks of a time when nations will live in peace, putting aside weapons of war. This is a call to hope for a peaceful world and to seek peace in our own lives.
Walking in God’s Light: Isaiah invites us to “walk in the light of the Lord.” This means choosing God’s ways, especially during Advent, as we prepare for Jesus’ coming.
Faith in Jesus’ Power: The centurion shows great faith in Jesus, believing that just His word can heal. We are encouraged to have strong faith like the centurion, trusting in Jesus’ ability to help us.

Humility Before God: The centurion humbly acknowledges he is unworthy to have Jesus enter his home. This humility teaches us to recognize our need for God and to approach Him with an open, humble heart.
Universal Invitation: Jesus’ praise of the centurion, a Gentile, shows that His message is for everyone, not just the Jews. This reminds us that God’s love is open to all people, no matter their background.
Preparation for Christ’s Coming: Both readings urge us to prepare for Jesus’ coming, both at Christmas and in the end times. Advent is a season of readiness, inviting us to examine our lives and open our hearts to Jesus.

As Advent begins, these themes guide us to greater faith, hope, and readiness for Christ. We are called to embrace peace, humility, and trust in God’s promises. This week sets the tone for a season of waiting, growth, and renewal.

Reflection for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent

Monday of the 1st Week of Advent offers readings from Isaiah and Matthew that guide us into this season of hope and preparation. Isaiah speaks of peace and unity, while the Gospel shows us the centurion’s strong faith. Both readings encourage us to seek peace, trust in God, and approach Him with humility as we begin Advent.

Hope for a Peaceful World

In the first reading for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent, Isaiah speaks about a future where nations will no longer fight but will live together peacefully. This vision of peace is a hopeful one. It is not only about countries, but also about finding peace in our hearts and daily lives.

As we begin Advent, we can reflect on how we might help bring peace to those around us. This might mean being more patient, forgiving someone, or letting go of a grudge. The season of Advent is a time to start fresh and make choices that lead to greater peace, both for us and others.

Isaiah’s message for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent encourages us to believe that peace is possible. While we may see conflict in the world or experience struggles in our own lives, we are reminded that God desires peace for everyone. Our job is to take small steps each day toward that peace, trusting that God will help us along the way.

Faith That Heals

The Gospel reading for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent tells the story of the centurion, who asks Jesus to heal his servant. The centurion does not need Jesus to come to his house; he trusts that Jesus’ word alone will heal. This is a great example of strong, simple faith.

We can learn from the centurion’s trust in Jesus. Often, we may feel uncertain or anxious, wanting visible signs that God is at work in our lives. But Jesus reminds us to trust Him, even when we cannot see or understand everything. Our faith can bring peace, hope, and healing in ways we may not expect.

During Advent, we are invited to increase our faith in Jesus. Like the centurion, we can come to Jesus in prayer, bringing our needs and concerns. Jesus’ response to the centurion encourages us to trust that He hears us and can help us in surprising ways.

Humility in Seeking God

Both the readings for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent call us to humility. In Isaiah, nations will turn to God and seek His ways instead of relying on their own strength. In the Gospel, the centurion humbly approaches Jesus, acknowledging his unworthiness. Humility is at the heart of both readings.

Humility helps us recognize our need for God. In a world that often praises self-reliance and independence, Advent reminds us that we cannot do everything on our own. We need God’s guidance and grace, especially as we prepare for the coming of Jesus. This is a time to humble ourselves before God and ask for His help.

This season, we can practice humility in small ways. We can admit when we are wrong, accept help from others, or simply ask God to lead us. The centurion’s humility shows us that approaching Jesus with an open heart leads to mercy and grace. During Advent, let us focus on how we can become more humble and closer to God.

As we reflect on the readings for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent, we are reminded to nurture peace, grow in faith, and embrace humility. These themes call us to prepare our hearts for Jesus’ coming. Advent is a special time to renew our efforts, trusting that God will help us along the way.

Prayer

Lord, help us to seek peace, trust in Your power, and approach You with humble hearts. Guide us this Advent season as we open our lives to Your love and mercy. Strengthen our faith and lead us closer to You. Amen.

Reflection Questions

How can you be a peacemaker in your family or community during Advent?
What helps you to trust Jesus more, even when you cannot see how things will work out?

How can you practice humility in your daily life as you prepare for Christmas?
What is one area of your life where you need God’s help to bring peace or healing?

Homilies and Commentaries for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent

Order of Preachers: The Centurion’s Plea

In a reflection for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent, Dr. Ann Garrido explores the centurion’s plea to Jesus for healing. The centurion, a Roman soldier used to power and control, humbles himself to ask a Jewish healer for help. Despite his authority, he admits he is unworthy for Jesus to enter his home and asks Jesus to heal with just a word.

Dr. Garrido connects the centurion’s struggle to the systems of power and brokenness we face. Like the centurion, we cry out to God in our messiness, trusting His word to bring healing and hope as Advent unfolds.

Word on Fire: Trusting God Who Never Fails

In his reflection for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent, Bishop Robert Barron praises the faith of the centurion who trusted in Jesus to heal his servant. This faith shows how God is a firm foundation we can always rely on. Unlike the shifting and unreliable things in the world, God’s word is unshakable.

Bishop Barron explains that God, as our Creator, gives us safety and peace. Nothing in the universe can fully satisfy or remain stable, but God never fails or betrays us. Like the Shaker hymn says, “No storm can shake my inmost calm, while to that rock I’m clinging.”

Dynamic Catholic: Who Is Really In Charge?

In his reflection for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent, Matthew Kelly focuses on the centurion’s statement, “I am a man under authority.” The centurion recognizes that he answers to higher authority and trusts in Jesus’ power. His faith amazes Jesus, who praises it as greater than any found in Israel.

Kelly encourages us to reflect on our own lives and remember that we, too, are under God’s authority. Society often teaches us to focus on self-reliance, but true faith means listening to God’s voice and following His commands. Like the centurion, we are called to trust and obey.

USCCB: Christ’s Compassion Under Our Roof

In a USCCB video reflection for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent, Msgr. James Vlaun reflects on the centurion’s plea, which we echo at every Mass: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.” This personal prayer reminds us that Christ sees and loves us as we are, even in our imperfections.

Msgr. Vlaun connects the centurion’s compassion for his servant to Advent’s call to bring Christ’s healing and mercy to others. He encourages us to welcome Jesus into our homes, schools, and workplaces. As we begin Advent, we pray, “Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.”

Word on Fire: Asking the Impossible

Bishop Robert Barron reflects on the Gospel for the Monday of the 1st Week of Advent, focusing on the Roman centurion’s faith in Jesus’ healing power. He highlights the centurion’s request for Jesus to heal his servant from a distance as an example of faith that transcends reason and control.

Bishop Barron cites Søren Kierkegaard’s definition of faith as “a passion for the impossible,” emphasizing that faith goes beyond rational understanding. He asserts that while God values reason, faith is about believing in what reason cannot grasp. Jesus’ praise for the centurion underscores the extraordinary nature of such faith, which trusts in God’s power beyond human comprehension.

Questions and Answers for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent

What date is Monday of the 1st Week of Advent?

The next date is Monday December 1, 2025.

What are the Mass readings for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent?

The Mass readings for Monday December 1, 2025 are:
First Reading – Isaiah 2:1-5: Isaiah’s Vision of Peace
First Reading (Alternative for Lectionary Year A) – Isaiah 4:2-6: The Lord’s Glory and Protection
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 122: Joyful Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
Gospel – Matthew 8:5-11: Centurion’s Great Faith

What is the main message in Isaiah’s reading for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent?

Isaiah’s reading points to a future time of peace when people will stop fighting and live in harmony. It encourages us to seek peace in our lives and trust that God wants unity and good for everyone.

Why does Isaiah talk about walking in God’s light?

Walking in God’s light means living according to His ways. During Advent, we should try to make better choices, live kindly, and follow God’s teachings as we prepare for Jesus.

How can we apply Isaiah’s message for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent of peace to our daily life?

Isaiah’s message encourages us to let go of anger, forgive others, and be peacemakers in our homes and communities. This aligns with the spirit of Advent, a time to seek calm and understanding.

What is special about the centurion’s faith in the Gospel reading for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent?

The centurion has strong faith in Jesus, believing He can heal just by speaking. This teaches us to trust Jesus in our own lives, knowing He can help us even if we cannot see Him working.

Why does Jesus praise the centurion?

Jesus praises the centurion for his faith, even though he is not Jewish. This shows that Jesus cares for all people and that anyone who believes can receive God’s help, no matter where they come from.

What does the centurion’s humility teach us?

The centurion is humble and knows he is not worthy to have Jesus come to his house. His humility reminds us to recognize our own weaknesses and to approach Jesus with an open heart.

How does the Gospel for Monday of the 1st Week of Advent reading relate to Advent?

The Gospel reading invites us to prepare our hearts for Jesus, just as the centurion did. During Advent, we can focus on growing in faith and making room for Jesus in our lives.

Why is it important to be ready for Jesus’ coming?

Advent is a time of preparation, reminding us that Jesus came as a child and will come again. We need to be ready by living faithfully and making changes that bring us closer to God.

What does it mean to make a constant effort to live God’s way during Advent?

Making a constant effort means trying to make good choices each day, like being kind, forgiving others, and praying more often. Advent is a good time to work on these habits.

How does humility help us during Advent?

Humility helps us recognize our need for God’s help and forgiveness. It makes it easier for us to turn to Jesus and accept His love and guidance in our lives.

Faith and Peace

Monday of the 1st Week of Advent brings messages of hope, faith, and peace. The first reading from Isaiah envisions a future where nations live together in peace. People will no longer fight but will instead seek God’s guidance. This vision of peace encourages us to desire a world without conflict and to pursue peace in our own hearts.

In the Gospel, we meet the centurion, a Roman soldier who shows great faith in Jesus’ power. He believes that Jesus can heal his servant with just a word, even without visiting his home. Jesus praises the centurion’s faith, saying it is a model for everyone, including those who are not Jewish. This story teaches us to trust Jesus completely, knowing that He can help us even when we cannot see Him.

Both readings emphasize the importance of preparing for Christ’s coming, both at Christmas and in the end times. Isaiah calls us to walk in God’s light, while the centurion shows us how to approach Jesus with humility and strong faith. As Advent begins, we are reminded to be ready and open to God’s guidance, inviting His peace into our lives.

Your Turn

Monday of the 1st Week of Advent invites us to embrace hope, faith, and peace. Take time to reflect on the readings and think about how you can prepare for Christ’s coming.

How can you build peace and trust in your life this Advent? Share your thoughts in the comments and let others know how you are preparing for this season of hope.