Daily Readings - Mon Dec 24 2018
2 Samuel
1Now it happened that, when the king had settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies2he said to the prophet Nathan, "Do you not see that I live in a house of cedar, and that the ark of God has been placed in the midst of tent skins?3And Nathan said to the king: "Go, do all that is in your heart. For the Lord is with you.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 place8And now, so shall you speak to my servant David: ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pastures, from following the sheep, so that you would be the leader over my people Israel9And I have been with you everywhere that you walked. And I have slain all your enemies before your face. And I have made you a great name, beside the name of the great ones who are upon the earth10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, and they shall live there, and they shall no longer be disturbed. Neither shall the sons of iniquity continue to afflict them as before11from the day when I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give rest to you from all your enemies. And the Lord foretells to you that the Lord himself will make a house for you12And 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 kingdom16And your house shall be faithful, and your kingdom shall be before your face, for eternity, and your throne shall be secure continuously.’
Luke
67And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit. And he prophesied, saying68"Blessed is the Lord God of Israel. For he has visited and has wrought the redemption of his people69And he has raised up a horn of salvation for us, in the house of David his servant70just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy Prophets, who are from ages past71salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all those who hate us72to accomplish mercy with our fathers, and to call to mind his holy testament73the oath, which he swore to Abraham, our father, that he would grant to us74so that, having been freed from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear75in holiness and in justice before him, throughout all our days76And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the face of the Lord: to prepare his ways77to give knowledge of salvation to his people for the remission of their sins78through the heart of the mercy of our God, by which, descending from on high, he has visited us79to illuminate those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to direct our feet in the way of peace.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound expressions of God’s promise and fulfillment. The first reading from 2 Samuel recounts Nathan’s prophetic message to King David, assuring him that God will establish his house and dynasty forever. David, humbled by God’s favor, had desired to build a temple for the Lord, but instead, the Lord promises to build a lasting kingdom through David’s descendants. This exchange highlights God’s initiative in shaping history and His plan to create a people and a place where His presence will dwell. The reading reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways, and His plans often surpass our human ambitions.
The Gospel reading from Luke presents Zechariah’s beautiful prophecy, known as the Benedictus. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Zechariah praises God for the fulfillment of His promises, particularly through the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He connects the dots between the ancient promises to Abraham and David and the salvation that is now unfolding. Zechariah’s words emphasize that God’s mercy and faithfulness are at the heart of His plan to redeem His people. Just as the Lord raised up a horn of salvation in the house of David, He continues to bring light and peace to those who sit in darkness.
These readings invite us to reflect on the ways God works in our lives and in the world. Just as David trusted in God’s plan, even when it seemed to delay his own desires, we too are called to trust in God’s timing and providence. Zechariah’s prophecy reminds us that we are part of a larger story—one of salvation and redemption. In our daily lives, we can apply this by seeking to align our wills with God’s, trusting that He is always working for our good and the good of all. Let us, like David and Zechariah, cultivate humility, gratitude, and faith, knowing that God’s promises are always fulfilled in His own perfect way.