Daily Readings - Sun Dec 08 2024

¹" ‘Take off, O Jerusalem, the garment of your sorrow and troubles, and put on your beauty and the honor of that eternal glory, which you have from God²God will surround you with a double garment of justice, and he will set a crown on your head of everlasting honor³For God will reveal his splendor in you to all who are under heaven⁴For your name will be given to you by God for eternity: the peace of justice and the honor of piety⁵Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand in exaltation, and look around towards the east, and see your sons, gathering together, from the rising of the sun to the setting of the sun, by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the remembrance of God⁶For they went out from you on foot, led by the enemies, but the Lord will lead them to you, being carried in honor like sons of the kingdom⁷For God has resolved to humble every high mountain and the longstanding cliffs, and to fill up the steep valleys in order to level the ground, so that Israel may walk diligently in the honor of God⁸Yet the woods and every sweet-smelling tree have provided shade for Israel by the commandment of God⁹For God will lead Israel with joy into the light of his majesty, with mercy and justice, which is from him.’

Philippians

Chapter 1

³I give thanks to my God, with every remembrance of you⁴always, in all my prayers, making supplication for all of you with joy⁵because of your communion in the Gospel of Christ, from the first day even until now⁶I am confident of this very thing: that he who has begun this good work in you will perfect it, unto the day of Christ Jesus⁸For God is my witness how, within the heart of Jesus Christ, I long for all of you⁹And this I pray: that your charity may abound more and more, with knowledge and with all understanding¹⁰so that you may be confirmed in what is better, in order that you may be sincere and without offense on the day of Christ¹¹filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, in the glory and praise of God

Luke

Chapter 3

¹Then, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being procurator of Judea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene²under the high priests Annas and Caiaphas: the word of the Lord came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness³And he went into the entire region of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins⁴just as it has been written in the book of the sermons of the prophet Isaiah: "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight his paths⁵Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low. And what is crooked shall be made straight. And the rough paths shall be made into level ways⁶And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of preparation, hope, and living a virtuous life. The first reading from Baruch speaks to Jerusalem, urging her to cast off sorrow and embrace the eternal glory given by God. This passage, likely written during the Babylonian exile, offers hope of redemption and return, emphasizing God's promise to lead His people with joy into His majestic light. The second reading from Philippians expresses Paul's gratitude and confidence in the Philippians' spiritual journey. He prays for their love to abound with knowledge and understanding, so they may live blamelessly and bear fruit in their lives, glorifying God. The Gospel from Luke introduces John the Baptist, who calls for repentance and preparation for the Lord's coming, quoting Isaiah's imagery of leveling paths and straightening roads, symbolizing spiritual readiness. These readings connect through the idea of preparation and living in accordance with God's will. Baruch and Luke both highlight the need to prepare for God's glory, while Philippians emphasizes living a life that reflects virtuous growth. Together, they remind us that our faith journey requires continuous preparation and a commitment to living in a way that aligns with God's plan. In our daily lives, we are called to embrace this preparation. We can do so by reflecting on our actions and intentions, ensuring they align with God's will. Like John the Baptist, we should be voices calling others to repentance and readiness. As Paul prayed for the Philippians, we too can pray for the grace to grow in love and understanding, living lives that are fruitful and pleasing to God. Let us strive to walk diligently in God's honor, trusting in His plan and promises, and may we always be prepared to receive His grace and live in His light.