Daily Readings - Mon Dec 18 2017

First Reading - Jeremiah 23.5-8

⁵Behold, the days are approaching, says the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous branch. And a king will reign, and he will be wise. And he will exercise judgment and justice upon the earth⁶In those days, Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in confidence. And this is the name that they will call him: ‘The Lord, our Just One.⁷Because of this, behold, the days are approaching, says the Lord, when they will no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives, who led the sons of Israel away from the land of Egypt,⁸but instead, ‘As the Lord lives, who led away and brought back the offspring of the house of Israel from the land of the north and from the entire earth,’ from the places to which I had cast them out. And they will live in their own land.

Gospel - Matthew 1.18-24

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.²⁴Then Joseph, arising from sleep, did just as the Angel of the Lord had instructed him, and he accepted her as his wife

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter profound messages of hope and trust in God's plan. The first reading from Jeremiah 23:5-8 speaks of a future king from David's line who will reign with wisdom and justice, bringing salvation to Judah and Israel. This prophecy shifts the focus from past glories, like the exodus, to a future restoration where God's people will live in security. The Gospel, Matthew 1:18-24, narrates Joseph's obedience and trust when faced with Mary's miraculous conception. An angel assures him, fulfilling the prophecy of Emmanuel, meaning "God is with us." These readings are set against the backdrop of exile and the dawn of the Messiah. Jeremiah's prophecy, spoken during the Babylonian exile, offers hope to a despairing people, promising a righteous leader. Matthew's narrative introduces Joseph, a man of justice and compassion, who embodies trust in God's plan despite uncertainty. Both readings intertwine, showing how Jeremiah's prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus, Emmanuel, who is God's presence among us. In our lives, these readings invite us to trust God's plan, especially in unexpected circumstances. Like Joseph, we are called to embrace God's will with courage. The name Emmanuel reminds us that God is ever-present, offering comfort and guidance. May we, like the people in Jeremiah's time, look forward with hope, knowing God's justice and peace will prevail. Let us cultivate trust and recognize God's abiding presence, transforming our challenges into opportunities for faith and growth.