Daily Readings - Sun Dec 19 2021

²And you, Bethlehem Ephrata, are a little one among the thousands of Judah. From you will go forth he who shall be the ruler in Israel, and his landing place has been set from the beginning, from the days of eternity³Because of this, he will provide for them, even until the time in which she who bears him gives birth. And the remnant of his brothers will be converted to the sons of Israel⁴And he will stand firm and feed on the strength of the Lord, according to the sublime name of the Lord his God. And they will be converted, for now he will be magnified, even to the ends of the earth⁵And this man will be our peace, when the Assyrian will come into our land, and when he will trample on our houses; and we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight principal men

Hebrews

Chapter 10

⁵For this reason, as Christ enters into the world, he says: "Sacrifice and oblation, you did not want. But you have fashioned a body for me⁶Holocausts for sin were not pleasing to you⁷Then I said, ‘Behold, I draw near.’ At the head of the book, it has been written of me that I should do your will, O God.⁸In the above, by saying, "Sacrifices, and oblations, and holocausts for sin, you did not want, nor are those things pleasing to you, which are offered according to the law⁹then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,’ " he takes away the first, so that he may establish what follows¹⁰For by this will, we have been sanctified, through the one time oblation of the body of Jesus Christ

Luke

Chapter 1

³⁹And in those days, Mary, rising up, traveled quickly into the hill country, to a city of Judah⁴⁰And she entered into the house of Zechariah, and she greeted Elizabeth⁴¹And it happened that, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit⁴²And she cried out with a loud voice and said: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb⁴³And how does this concern me, so that the mother of my Lord would come to me⁴⁴For behold, as the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy⁴⁵And blessed are you who believed, for the things that were spoken to you by the Lord shall be accomplished.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter profound messages that guide us toward a deeper understanding of faith and trust in God. The first reading from Micah prophesies the birth of a ruler in Bethlehem, signifying hope and peace amidst turmoil. This prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus, emphasizing His divine mission. The second reading from Hebrews highlights Jesus' role as the perfect sacrifice, surpassing the old covenant's offerings, and underscores His obedience to God's will. In the Gospel, Luke narrates the visitation where Mary's faith is praised, and the unborn John the Baptist recognizes Jesus as Lord, illustrating the power of faith and recognition of God's presence. These readings interconnect by pointing to Jesus as our savior, whose birth and mission bring hope and redemption. Micah sets the stage for Jesus' arrival, Hebrews explains His sacrifice, and Luke shows the early acknowledgment of His divinity. Together, they remind us that faith and trust in God are essential. In our daily lives, we are called to emulate Mary's faith, trusting God's plan even when uncertain. Like Elizabeth, we should recognize God's presence and rejoice in His work. The moral lesson here is the importance of living with faith and trust. Just as Mary and Elizabeth trusted God, we too can find peace and strength by surrendering to His will. Let us embrace this trust, allowing it to guide our actions and decisions, and may our faith in God bring us joy and fulfillment.