Daily Readings - Sun Dec 30 2018

²⁰And it happened that, in the course of days, Hannah conceived and bore a son. And she called his name Samuel, because she had requested him from the Lord²¹Now her husband Elkanah ascended with his entire house, so that he might immolate to the Lord a solemn sacrifice, with his vow²²But Hannah did not go up. For she said to her husband, "I will not go, until the infant has been weaned, and until I may lead him, so that he may appear before the sight of the Lord, and may remain always there.²⁴And after she had weaned him, she brought him with her, along with three calves, and three measures of flour, and a small bottle of wine, and she led him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. But the boy was still a young child²⁵And they immolated a calf, and they presented the boy to Eli²⁶And Hannah said: "I beg you, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord: I am that woman, who stood before you here, praying to the Lord²⁷I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted to me my petition, which I asked of him²⁸Because of this, I have also lent him to the Lord, for all the days when he shall be lent to the Lord." And they adored the Lord in that place. And Hannah prayed, and she said

1 John

Chapter 3

¹See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we would be called, and would become, the sons of God. Because of this, the world does not know us, for it did not know him²Most beloved, we are now the sons of God. But what we shall be then has not yet appeared. We know that when he does appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is²¹Most beloved, if our heart does not reproach us, we can have confidence toward God²²and whatever we shall request of him, we shall receive from him. For we keep his commandments, and we do the things that are pleasing in his sight²³And this is his commandment: that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he has commanded us²⁴And those who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And we know that he abides in us by this: by the Spirit, whom he has given to us

Luke

Chapter 2

⁴¹And his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the time of the solemnity of Passover⁴²And when he had become twelve years old, they ascended to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast day⁴³And having completed the days, when they returned, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem. And his parents did not realize this⁴⁴But, supposing that he was in the company, they went a day’s journey, seeking him among their relatives and acquaintances⁴⁵And not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him⁴⁶And it happened that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, listening to them and questioning them⁴⁷But all who listened to him were astonished over his prudence and his responses⁴⁸And upon seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: "Son, why have you acted this way toward us? Behold, your father and I were seeking you in sorrow.⁴⁹And he said to them: "How is it that you were seeking me? For did you not know that it is necessary for me to be in these things which are of my Father?⁵⁰And they did not understand the word that he spoke to them⁵¹And he descended with them and went to Nazareth. And he was subordinate to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart⁵²And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and in age, and in grace, with God and men

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter powerful stories of faith, dedication, and the profound relationship between God and His people. The first reading from 1 Samuel tells us of Hannah, a woman who, after years of barrenness, prays fervently for a child and promises to dedicate him to the Lord. When her prayer is answered, she keeps her vow, bringing her young son Samuel to the temple to serve God. This story highlights the depth of Hannah’s faith and her willingness to surrender her greatest gift back to the One who gave it to her. The second reading from 1 John reminds us of our identity as children of God and the immense love the Father has for us. John emphasizes that we are called to live in accordance with God’s commandments, particularly the commandment to love one another. This love is not abstract but is demonstrated through our actions and our relationship with God. John also assures us that when we keep God’s commandments, we can have confidence in His presence and provision in our lives. The Gospel from Luke presents the story of the young Jesus in the temple. At just twelve years old, Jesus is already demonstrating a deep understanding of His mission and identity. When Mary and Joseph find Him engaged in discussion with the teachers of the law, Jesus responds by saying, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” This moment reveals the beginning of Jesus’ public life and His unwavering focus on His Father’s will. Mary, in her wisdom, “kept all these things in her heart,” reflecting on the mystery of her Son’s divine mission. These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and our commitment to living out our faith. Like Hannah, we are called to trust in God’s plan and to surrender our lives and gifts to Him. Like the Beloved Disciple, we are reminded that our identity as children of God is rooted in love and obedience. And like Mary, we are invited to ponder the mystery of God’s work in our lives and to support one another in fulfilling our unique callings. May we, like Jesus, remain focused on our Father’s will, and may we, with Mary, treasure these truths in our hearts.