Daily Readings - Thu Dec 21 2017

First Reading - Zephaniah 3.14-18a

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 1.39-45

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.

Sermon

In today's readings, we are presented with themes of joy, trust, and the profound presence of God in our lives. The first reading from Zephaniah invites us to rejoice, for God is in our midst, bringing salvation and dispelling fear. This passage, written in a time of despair, offers hope and restoration, urging us to trust in God's plan. The Gospel from Luke recounts the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, where the unborn John the Baptist leaps in recognition of Jesus' presence. Elizabeth's praise of Mary highlights the blessedness of faith and the fulfillment of God's promises. Both readings are set in contexts where trust in God's plan is central. Zephaniah's message was one of hope to a people facing judgment, while Luke's narrative showcases the early events surrounding Jesus' birth, emphasizing faith and recognition of divine work. The connection between the two lies in their emphasis on trust and rejoicing in God's presence, even amidst challenges. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to embrace trust in God's plan and to find joy in His presence. Just as Mary and Elizabeth recognized God's work, we too can acknowledge His presence in our lives and in others. The moral lesson here is one of faith and community—trusting God's plan and supporting one another in our spiritual journeys. Let us strive to live with such faith, finding joy in God's presence and trusting in His loving care.