Daily Readings - Wed May 31 2023

First Reading - Zephaniah 3.14-18 or Romans 12.9-16

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

Romans

Chapter 12

⁹Let love be without falseness: hating evil, clinging to what is good¹⁰loving one another with fraternal charity, surpassing one another in honor¹¹in solicitude, not lazy; in spirit, fervent; serving the Lord¹²in hope, rejoicing; in tribulation, enduring; in prayer, ever-willing¹³in the difficulties of the saints, sharing; in hospitality, attentive¹⁴Bless those who are persecuting you: bless, and do not curse¹⁵Rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Weep with those who are weeping¹⁶Be of the same mind toward one another: not savoring what is exalted, but consenting in humility. Do not choose to seem wise to yourself

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.⁴⁶And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord⁴⁷And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Saviour⁴⁸For he has looked with favor on the humility of his handmaid. For behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed⁴⁹For he who is great has done great things for me, and holy is his name⁵⁰And his mercy is from generation to generations for those who fear him⁵¹He has accomplished powerful deeds with his arm. He has scattered the arrogant in the intentions of their heart⁵²He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty⁵⁴He has taken up his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy⁵⁵just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his offspring forever.⁵⁶Then Mary stayed with her for about three months. And she returned to her own house

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of joy, hope, and the transformative power of God’s presence in our lives. In the first reading from Zephaniah, the prophet calls the people of Zion to rejoice because God has removed their judgment and is now in their midst as their strength and salvation. This passage is set in a time when Jerusalem was facing judgment and uncertainty, but Zephaniah offers a message of hope: God’s presence brings comfort, peace, and deliverance. The prophet reminds us that even in the darkest times, God’s love and mercy can turn our fears into joy and our despair into exultation. The Gospel reading from Luke presents the beautiful encounter between Mary and Elizabeth, a moment of profound faith and joy. Mary, carrying Jesus in her womb, visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is carrying John the Baptist. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognizes the blessedness of Mary and the fruit of her womb. Mary’s response, known as the Magnificat, is a hymn of praise that reflects her deep trust in God’s plan and her humility. She acknowledges God’s greatness and the way he lifts up the lowly, fills the hungry, and remembers his mercy toward his people. This passage reminds us that faith is not just about believing in God’s promises but also about trusting in his providence and rejoicing in his presence. Both readings remind us that our relationship with God is rooted in trust and joy. Zephaniah calls us to rejoice because God is in our midst, and Mary’s Magnificat shows us how to praise God even in the midst of uncertainty. In our daily lives, we are often faced with challenges and fears, but these readings encourage us to turn to God with faith and hope. Like Mary, we can magnify the Lord and trust that he will accomplish great things in us. Let us allow God’s presence to fill us with joy and strength, and may we, like Elizabeth, recognize the blessings of those around us. In doing so, we become witnesses of God’s mercy and love, living out our faith with humility and gratitude.