Daily Readings - Sun Dec 09 2018
Baruch
1" ‘Take off, O Jerusalem, the garment of your sorrow and troubles, and put on your beauty and the honor of that eternal glory, which you have from God2God will surround you with a double garment of justice, and he will set a crown on your head of everlasting honor3For God will reveal his splendor in you to all who are under heaven4For your name will be given to you by God for eternity: the peace of justice and the honor of piety5Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand in exaltation, and look around towards the east, and see your sons, gathering together, from the rising of the sun to the setting of the sun, by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the remembrance of God6For they went out from you on foot, led by the enemies, but the Lord will lead them to you, being carried in honor like sons of the kingdom7For God has resolved to humble every high mountain and the longstanding cliffs, and to fill up the steep valleys in order to level the ground, so that Israel may walk diligently in the honor of God8Yet the woods and every sweet-smelling tree have provided shade for Israel by the commandment of God9For God will lead Israel with joy into the light of his majesty, with mercy and justice, which is from him.’
Philippians
3I give thanks to my God, with every remembrance of you4always, in all my prayers, making supplication for all of you with joy5because of your communion in the Gospel of Christ, from the first day even until now6I am confident of this very thing: that he who has begun this good work in you will perfect it, unto the day of Christ Jesus8For God is my witness how, within the heart of Jesus Christ, I long for all of you9And this I pray: that your charity may abound more and more, with knowledge and with all understanding10so that you may be confirmed in what is better, in order that you may be sincere and without offense on the day of Christ11filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, in the glory and praise of God
Luke
1Then, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being procurator of Judea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene2under the high priests Annas and Caiaphas: the word of the Lord came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness3And he went into the entire region of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins4just as it has been written in the book of the sermons of the prophet Isaiah: "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight his paths5Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low. And what is crooked shall be made straight. And the rough paths shall be made into level ways6And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter themes of preparation, hope, and spiritual growth. The first reading from Baruch offers a prophetic vision of Jerusalem's restoration, urging the city to shed its sorrow and don the garments of eternal glory. This passage speaks of a future where Jerusalem's children return, guided by God's light, emphasizing the transformative power of divine grace. The second reading from Philippians shifts focus to the community, with Paul expressing gratitude for their partnership in the Gospel. He prays for their love to abound with knowledge and understanding, striving for blamelessness on the day of Christ. This highlights the importance of continuous spiritual growth and virtuous living. The Gospel from Luke introduces John the Baptist, who calls for repentance and the preparation of a straight path for the Lord, echoing Isaiah's words. This serves as a call to ready ourselves for Christ's arrival, both in our hearts and in our world.
These readings intertwine by emphasizing preparation—whether for the return of the exiles, the deepening of faith, or the coming of Jesus. Baruch and Luke both stress the need to clear the way, metaphorically and spiritually, for divine presence. Paul's letter to the Philippians bridges these ideas by focusing on the community's spiritual journey, illustrating that true preparation involves growth in love and wisdom.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own preparation for encountering Christ. Like John the Baptist, we are called to clear the obstacles in our hearts, making straight the paths for God's grace. This involves repentance, seeking forgiveness, and living with integrity. As Paul prayed for the Philippians, we too can pray for the grace to grow in love and understanding, ensuring our lives bear the fruit of righteousness. May we embrace this call to prepare our hearts and lives, walking diligently in the honor of God, as we await the revelation of His glory.