Daily Readings - Mon Dec 19 2022
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
The readings today present us with two powerful stories of divine intervention and the fulfillment of God’s plan in the lives of His people. In the first reading from Judges, we encounter the story of Manoah and his wife, who, though childless, receive an extraordinary visit from an angel of the Lord. The angel announces the birth of a son, Samson, who will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. This child is destined to begin the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines. Similarly, in the Gospel, we hear the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, an elderly and barren couple, to whom the angel Gabriel announces the birth of John the Baptist. John, too, is set apart for a special mission—to prepare the way for the Lord.
Both stories highlight the theme of God’s unexpected and transformative action in the lives of those who trust Him. In each case, the announcement of a child comes as a surprise, breaking through the limitations of human circumstances. For Manoah’s wife and for Elizabeth, their barrenness is not an obstacle for God but an opportunity for Him to reveal His power and grace. These narratives remind us that God often works in ways we cannot anticipate, and that His plans are greater than our own. They also emphasize the importance of faith and trust in the face of uncertainty.
In our own lives, we are called to embrace this same spirit of trust and openness to God’s will. Like Manoah’s wife and Elizabeth, we may face challenges or limitations that seem insurmountable, but these are precisely the moments when God can work most powerfully. The readings invite us to surrender our fears and doubts to Him, knowing that He has a plan to bring about good, even if we cannot see it immediately. Let us, therefore, imitate the faith of these holy women and men, trusting that God will fulfill His promises in our lives and use us for His greater purpose.