Daily Readings - Mon Mar 19 2018

First Reading - 2 Samuel 7.4-5a, 12-14a, 16

⁴But it happened in that night, behold, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying⁵"Go, and say to my servant David: ‘Thus says the Lord: Should you build a house for me as a dwelling place¹²And when your days will have been fulfilled, and you will sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will go forth from your loins, and I will make firm his kingdom¹³He himself shall build a house to my name. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom, even forever¹⁴I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. And if he will commit any iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and with the wounds of the sons of men¹⁶And your house shall be faithful, and your kingdom shall be before your face, for eternity, and your throne shall be secure continuously.’

Second Reading - Romans 4.13, 16-18, 22

Romans

Chapter 4

¹³For the Promise to Abraham, and to his posterity, that he would inherit the world, was not through the law, but through the justice of faith¹⁶Because of this, it is from faith according to grace that the Promise is ensured for all posterity, not only for those who are of the law, but also for those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all before God¹⁷in whom he believed, who revives the dead and who calls those things that do not exist into existence. For it is written: "I have established you as the father of many nations.¹⁸And he believed, with a hope beyond hope, so that he might become the father of many nations, according to what was said to him: "So shall your posterity be.²²And for this reason, it was reputed to him unto justice

Gospel - Matthew 1.16, 18-21, 24a

Matthew

Chapter 1

¹⁶And Jacob conceived Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ¹⁸Now 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.²⁴Then Joseph, arising from sleep, did just as the Angel of the Lord had instructed him, and he accepted her as his wife

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust, faith, and God’s unwavering promises. In the first reading from 2 Samuel, we hear Nathan’s prophecy to David, where God assures him that his dynasty will endure forever and that his throne will be established for eternity. This promise is not a reward for David’s achievements but a testament to God’s faithfulness and plan. It reminds us that God’s promises are not limited by human failure or success but are rooted in His divine will. The second reading from Romans deepens this theme by highlighting the faith of Abraham, who trusted God’s promise even when it seemed impossible. Paul emphasizes that Abraham’s justification came not through works or the law but through faith. This teaches us that our relationship with God is rooted in trust and grace. Just as Abraham believed in God’s power to bring life out of nothingness, we are called to have faith in God’s plan, even when circumstances seem uncertain or beyond our control. In the Gospel, we see this trust lived out in Joseph, who despite the unexpected and challenging situation of Mary’s pregnancy, chose to obey God’s will. The Angel reassures him, “Do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home,” and Joseph’s obedience becomes a pivotal moment in the story of salvation. This reminds us that faith is not passive but active—it requires us to step out in trust, even when the path is unclear. Today’s readings call us to reflect on our own trust in God’s promises. Like David, Abraham, and Joseph, we are invited to surrender our fears and doubts to God’s plan. In our daily lives, this means trusting that God is at work even in the midst of challenges, and being obedient to His will, even when it requires sacrifice or courage. May we, like these biblical figures, grow in faith and allow God’s promises to shape our lives, knowing that His plan is always greater than our own.