Daily Readings - Sun Dec 12 2021

¹⁴Give praise, daughter of Zion. Shout joyfully, Israel. Rejoice and exult with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem¹⁵The Lord has taken away your judgment; he has turned aside your foes. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall no longer fear evil¹⁶In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, "Do not be afraid," and to Zion, "Do not let your hands be weakened.¹⁷The Lord your God is the strength in your midst; he will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. In his love, he will be silent. He will exult over you with praise¹⁸The triflers who withdrew from the law, I will gather together, because they were from you, so that you may no longer suffer disgrace over them

Philippians

Chapter 4

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice⁵Let your modesty be known to all men. The Lord is near⁶Be anxious about nothing. But in all things, with prayer and supplication, with acts of thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God⁷And so shall the peace of God, which exceeds all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus

Luke

Chapter 3

¹⁰And the crowed was questioning him, saying, "What then should we do?¹¹But in response, he said to them: "Whoever has two coats, let him give to those who do not have. And whoever has food, let him act similarly.¹²Now the tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?¹³But he said to them, "You should do nothing more than what has been appointed to you.¹⁴Then the soldiers also questioned him, saying, "And what should we do?" And he said to them: "You should strike no one, and you should not make false accusations. And be content with your pay.¹⁵Now all were thinking about John in their hearts, and the people were supposing that perhaps he might be the Christ¹⁶John responded by saying to everyone: "Indeed, I baptize you with water. But there will arrive one stronger than me, the laces of whose shoes I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit, and with fire¹⁷His winnowing fan is in his hand. And he will purify his threshing floor. And he will gather the wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.¹⁸Indeed, he also proclaimed many other things, exhorting the people

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of joy, trust in God, and living a life of integrity and compassion. In the first reading from Zephaniah, we hear a call to rejoice because God is in our midst, saving and strengthening us. This prophet speaks to a people who have endured hardship, reminding them that God’s presence brings freedom from fear and the promise of deliverance. The second reading from Philippians echoes this call to joy, urging us to rejoice always and to trust in God’s nearness. Paul reminds us that our anxieties can be lifted when we turn to prayer and thanksgiving, allowing God’s peace to guard our hearts and minds. The Gospel from Luke shifts our focus to the practical implications of living a life of faith. John the Baptist, responding to the crowds, tax collectors, and soldiers, gives specific instructions on how to live justly and compassionately. He calls us to share what we have, to act with integrity in our work, and to be content with what we have. John’s message is one of repentance and preparation for the coming of the Messiah, who will bring the Holy Spirit and purify hearts. Together, these readings remind us that our faith is not just about feeling joyful or trusting in God’s presence; it is also about living in a way that reflects God’s justice and love. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are challenged to examine how we live out our faith. Do we rejoice in God’s presence, even in difficult times? Do we trust in God’s providence, turning to prayer and thanksgiving instead of anxiety? And do we live with integrity and compassion, sharing our resources, acting justly, and being content with what we have? The moral lesson here is clear: our faith must lead us to action. We are called to be people of joy and trust, but also people of justice and love. As we prepare for the coming of the Lord, let us strive to live in a way that reflects His presence in our hearts and in the world around us.