Daily Readings - Sun Dec 15 2024

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

Philippians

Chapter 4

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice⁵Let your modesty be known to all men. The Lord is near⁶Be anxious about nothing. But in all things, with prayer and supplication, with acts of thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God⁷And so shall the peace of God, which exceeds all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus

Luke

Chapter 3

¹⁰And the crowed was questioning him, saying, "What then should we do?¹¹But in response, he said to them: "Whoever has two coats, let him give to those who do not have. And whoever has food, let him act similarly.¹²Now the tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?¹³But he said to them, "You should do nothing more than what has been appointed to you.¹⁴Then the soldiers also questioned him, saying, "And what should we do?" And he said to them: "You should strike no one, and you should not make false accusations. And be content with your pay.¹⁵Now all were thinking about John in their hearts, and the people were supposing that perhaps he might be the Christ¹⁶John responded by saying to everyone: "Indeed, I baptize you with water. But there will arrive one stronger than me, the laces of whose shoes I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit, and with fire¹⁷His winnowing fan is in his hand. And he will purify his threshing floor. And he will gather the wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.¹⁸Indeed, he also proclaimed many other things, exhorting the people

Sermon

In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of joy, trust in God, and living out our faith through moral actions. The prophet Zephaniah brings a message of hope and consolation to Zion, urging her to rejoice because God is in her midst and has removed her enemies. This message is a reminder that even in difficult times, God's presence brings joy and liberation. In Philippians, Paul encourages the community to rejoice always and not be anxious, trusting in God's peace that surpasses all understanding. This teaching emphasizes the importance of maintaining joy and peace amidst life's challenges. In the Gospel, John the Baptist calls the crowd, tax collectors, and soldiers to live justly and not abuse their power, while also announcing the coming of the Messiah who will bring purification and judgment. These readings are connected by the theme of joy and trust in God. Zephaniah and Paul both emphasize rejoicing in the Lord, while John the Baptist calls for a life of moral integrity as we await the Messiah. The readings remind us that our faith should lead us to trust in God's providence and live in a way that reflects our commitment to justice and compassion. The moral lesson here is that true rejoicing in the Lord leads to a life of service and ethical living. As we prepare for the coming of Christ, we are called to examine our lives and ensure that our actions align with the values of the Kingdom of God. In our daily lives, we can apply these teachings by finding joy in our faith, trusting in God's plan, and living out our faith through moral actions. Let us strive to be people of integrity, treating others justly and avoiding exploitation. May we also remember that our ultimate hope is in the Messiah who will purify us and bring us closer to God. As we journey through life, may we always rejoice in the Lord and live in a way that reflects His love and justice.