Daily Readings - Fri Sep 08 2017

First Reading - Romans 8.28-30

²⁸And we know that, for those who love God, all things work together unto good, for those who, in accordance with his purpose, are called to be saints²⁹For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined, in conformity with the image of his Son, so that he might be the Firstborn among many brothers³⁰And those whom he predestined, he also called. And those whom he called, he also justified. And those whom he justified, he also glorified

Gospel - Matthew 1.18-23

Matthew

Chapter 1

¹⁸Now the procreation of the Christ occurred in this way. After his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they lived together, she was found to have conceived in her womb by the Holy Spirit¹⁹Then Joseph, her husband, since he was just and was not willing to hand her over, preferred to send her away secretly²⁰But while thinking over these things, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to accept Mary as your wife. For what has been formed in her is of the Holy Spirit²¹And she shall give birth to a son. And you shall call his name JESUS. For he shall accomplish the salvation of his people from their sins.²²Now all this occurred in order to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying²³"Behold, a virgin shall conceive in her womb, and she shall give birth to a son. And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means: God is with us.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two profound expressions of God’s providence and the call to trust in His plan. The first reading from Romans reminds us that for those who love God, all things work together for good. St. Paul assures us that we are predestined to be conformed to the image of God’s Son, called, justified, and ultimately glorified. This passage invites us to see our lives as part of a larger divine plan, where even the challenges we face are opportunities for growth in holiness. The Gospel, from Matthew, presents us with the story of Joseph, a just and faithful man who is called to trust in God’s plan despite the unexpected and challenging circumstances of Mary’s pregnancy. Through Joseph’s example, we see the importance of humility, obedience, and trust in God’s providence. Both readings emphasize the theme of trust in God’s plan. In Romans, this trust is rooted in the theological truth of our predestination to share in the glory of Christ. In Matthew, it is lived out in the concrete circumstances of Joseph’s life. Just as Joseph was called to accept Mary as his wife and to care for the Son of God, we too are called to embrace our own vocations and to trust that God is at work in our lives, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. The readings remind us that our lives are not mere coincidences but are part of a divine plan that unfolds in ways we may not always understand. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Do we truly trust that God is working all things for our good? Are we open to embracing the unexpected challenges and opportunities that come our way? Like Joseph, we are called to be faithful and obedient, even when the road ahead seems difficult. May we, like him, trust in God’s providence and allow ourselves to be instruments of His plan. In doing so, we will find peace in the midst of uncertainty and fulfill our own unique role in the story of salvation.