Daily Readings - Wed Dec 19 2018
Judges
2Now there was a certain man from Zorah, and of the stock of Dan, whose name was Manoah, having a barren wife3And an Angel of the Lord appeared to her, and he said: "You are barren and without children. But you shall conceive and bear a son4Therefore, take care that you do not drink wine or strong drink. Neither shall you eat anything unclean5For you shall conceive and bear a son, whose head no razor shall touch. For he shall be a Nazirite of God, from his infancy and from his mother’s womb. And he shall begin to free Israel from the hand of the Philistines.6And when she had gone to her husband, she said to him: "A man of God came to me, having the countenance of an Angel, exceedingly terrible. And when I had inquired of him, who he was, and where he was from, and what name he was called, he was not willing to tell me7But he responded: ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. Take care that you do not drink wine or strong drink. And you shall not consume anything unclean. For the boy shall be a Nazirite of God from his infancy, from his mother’s womb, even until the day of his death.’ 24And so she bore a son, and she called his name Samson. And the boy grew up, and the Lord blessed him25And the Spirit of the Lord began to be with him in the camp of Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol
Luke
5There was, in the days of Herod, king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the section of Abijah, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth6Now they were both just before God, progressing in all of the commandments and the justifications of the Lord without blame7And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both had become advanced in years8Then it happened that, when he was exercising the priesthood before God, in the order of his section9according to the custom of the priesthood, the lot fell so that he would offer incense, entering into the temple of the Lord10And the entire multitude of the people was praying outside, at the hour of incense11Then there appeared to him an Angel of the Lord, standing at the right of the altar of incense12And upon seeing him, Zechariah was disturbed, and fear fell over him13But the Angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear a son to you. And you shall call his name John14And there will be joy and exultation for you, and many will rejoice in his nativity15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb16And he will convert many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God17And he will go before him with the spirit and power of Elijah, so that he may turn the hearts of the fathers to the sons, and the incredulous to the prudence of the just, so as to prepare for the Lord a completed people.18And Zechariah said to the Angel: "How may I know this? For I am elderly, and my wife is advanced in years.19And in response, the Angel said to him: "I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I have been sent to speak to you, and to proclaim these things to you20And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak, until the day on which these things shall be, because you have not believed my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.21And the people were waiting for Zechariah. And they wondered why he was being delayed in the temple22Then, when he came out, he was unable to speak to them. And they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, but he remained mute23And it happened that, after the days of his office were completed, he went away to his house24Then, after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she hid herself for five months, saying25"For the Lord did this for me, at the time when he decided to take away my reproach among men.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two remarkable stories of divine intervention and miraculous births, each highlighting God’s profound plan and the importance of trust in His providence. The first reading from Judges tells the story of Manoah and his wife, who, despite being barren, are promised a son, Samson, through an angelic visitation. Samson is set apart as a Nazirite, dedicated to God from birth, destined to deliver Israel from the Philistines. The Gospel reading from Luke presents Zechariah and Elizabeth, an elderly and childless couple, who are visited by the angel Gabriel. They are promised a son, John the Baptist, who will be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth and prepare the way for the Lord. Zechariah’s skepticism results in his temporary muteness, underscoring the theme of faith and trust.
Both narratives share a common thread of miraculous conception and the divine appointment of these children to significant roles in God’s plan. Samson and John, though different in their missions, exemplify being set apart for God’s work. Their stories remind us that our lives are not mere coincidences but are intricately woven into God’s larger plan. The context of these readings is rooted in a time of anticipation and preparation—Samson for the deliverance of Israel and John as the forerunner of Christ. These stories emphasize the importance of dedication and trust, challenging us to embrace our unique roles in God’s plan.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our trust in God’s plan and our willingness to be set apart for His service. Just as Manoah’s wife and Elizabeth trusted God’s promises despite their circumstances, we are called to embrace our own unique vocations with faith. The moral lesson here is clear: God’s plan is often beyond our understanding, but it is in our trust and obedience that we find true purpose. Let us, like these biblical figures, surrender to God’s will, allowing Him to use us in ways that align with His greater plan. In doing so, we become instruments of His grace, living out our faith actively and faithfully.