Daily Readings - Wed May 31 2017

First Reading - Zephaniah 3.14-18

¹⁴Give praise, daughter of Zion. Shout joyfully, Israel. Rejoice and exult with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem¹⁵The Lord has taken away your judgment; he has turned aside your foes. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall no longer fear evil¹⁶In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, "Do not be afraid," and to Zion, "Do not let your hands be weakened.¹⁷The Lord your God is the strength in your midst; he will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. In his love, he will be silent. He will exult over you with praise¹⁸The triflers who withdrew from the law, I will gather together, because they were from you, so that you may no longer suffer disgrace over them

Gospel - Luke 1.39-56

Luke

Chapter 1

³⁹And in those days, Mary, rising up, traveled quickly into the hill country, to a city of Judah⁴⁰And she entered into the house of Zechariah, and she greeted Elizabeth⁴¹And it happened that, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit⁴²And she cried out with a loud voice and said: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb⁴³And how does this concern me, so that the mother of my Lord would come to me⁴⁴For behold, as the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy⁴⁵And blessed are you who believed, for the things that were spoken to you by the Lord shall be accomplished.⁴⁶And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord⁴⁷And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Saviour⁴⁸For he has looked with favor on the humility of his handmaid. For behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed⁴⁹For he who is great has done great things for me, and holy is his name⁵⁰And his mercy is from generation to generations for those who fear him⁵¹He has accomplished powerful deeds with his arm. He has scattered the arrogant in the intentions of their heart⁵²He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty⁵⁴He has taken up his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy⁵⁵just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his offspring forever.⁵⁶Then Mary stayed with her for about three months. And she returned to her own house

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages of joy, trust, and transformation through God’s presence. The first reading from Zephaniah invites us to rejoice, for God has removed judgment and is in our midst, offering strength and salvation. This prophetic text, written during a time of impending judgment, brings hope by promising restoration and an end to fear. The context suggests a period when Israel faced oppression, and Zephaniah’s words were a beacon of light, assuring them of God’s enduring presence and deliverance. The Gospel from Luke presents the Visitation, where Mary, upon visiting Elizabeth, experiences a moment of profound recognition and joy. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, acknowledges Mary as the mother of the Lord, and Mary responds with the Magnificat, a hymn of praise that reflects her deep faith and understanding of God’s mercy and power. This scene, part of the infancy narrative, highlights Mary’s trust and the early signs of Jesus’ significance, setting the stage for the transformative power of God’s plan. These readings intertwine through themes of trust, joy, and God’s transformative power. Zephaniah’s assurance of God’s presence and Luke’s depiction of Mary’s faith encourage us to trust in God’s providence. In our daily lives, we are invited to find joy in God’s presence, even amidst challenges, and to live with faith, knowing His mercy endures. Let us reflect on how our trust in God can transform our lives, leading us to a deeper joy and a commitment to serving others, just as Mary’s faith led her to magnify the Lord.