Daily Readings - Sat Dec 24 2022
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 moments of divine promise and fulfillment. The first reading from 2 Samuel recounts King David's desire to build a house for God, only to be told that God will instead establish a house for David—a promise of an eternal kingdom through his lineage. This passage highlights God's faithfulness and the significance of the Davidic covenant, which points to the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Gospel reading from Luke presents Zechariah's joyful prophecy, known as the Benedictus, where he praises God for the redemption brought through the house of David and the role of John the Baptist in preparing the way for the Messiah. Together, these readings underscore the themes of divine promise, faithfulness, and the preparation for God's saving plan.
Both readings are deeply connected, as they reflect on God's promises and their fulfillment in unexpected ways. In 2 Samuel, David's humility and trust in God's plan are evident, even when the immediate fulfillment isn't what he envisioned. Similarly, in Luke, Zechariah's prophecy looks forward to the fulfillment of God's promises through the coming of Jesus. These passages remind us that God's timing and ways are not our own, and that His plans often unfold in ways we cannot fully anticipate. They invite us to trust in God's faithfulness and to live with hope, knowing that His promises are always at work, even when we cannot see the full picture.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to reflect on our own trust in God's plan. Like David, we may have desires or plans for our lives, but we must remain open to how God might redirect them for His greater purpose. Like Zechariah, we are called to proclaim God's mercy and salvation, even in the face of uncertainty. As we navigate the challenges and joys of life, may we find strength in the knowledge that God is always at work, preparing the way for us and for others. Let us live with faith, hope, and gratitude, trusting that His promises will guide us on the path of peace.