Daily Readings - Wed Dec 18 2024
Jeremiah
5Behold, the days are approaching, says the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous branch. And a king will reign, and he will be wise. And he will exercise judgment and justice upon the earth6In those days, Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in confidence. And this is the name that they will call him: ‘The Lord, our Just One.7Because of this, behold, the days are approaching, says the Lord, when they will no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives, who led the sons of Israel away from the land of Egypt,8but instead, ‘As the Lord lives, who led away and brought back the offspring of the house of Israel from the land of the north and from the entire earth,’ from the places to which I had cast them out. And they will live in their own land.
Matthew
18Now the procreation of the Christ occurred in this way. After his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they lived together, she was found to have conceived in her womb by the Holy Spirit19Then Joseph, her husband, since he was just and was not willing to hand her over, preferred to send her away secretly20But while thinking over these things, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to accept Mary as your wife. For what has been formed in her is of the Holy Spirit21And she shall give birth to a son. And you shall call his name JESUS. For he shall accomplish the salvation of his people from their sins.22Now all this occurred in order to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying23"Behold, a virgin shall conceive in her womb, and she shall give birth to a son. And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means: God is with us.24Then Joseph, arising from sleep, did just as the Angel of the Lord had instructed him, and he accepted her as his wife
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust, faith, and God’s providential plan. In the first reading from Jeremiah, we hear a messianic prophecy about a righteous branch from David who will reign with wisdom and justice. This passage was written during a time of great turmoil for Judah, when the people were longing for a savior to restore their nation. Jeremiah’s words offer hope, promising that God will fulfill his promise to David and bring salvation to his people. The prophet emphasizes that this savior will not only bring justice but also restore Israel’s confidence in God’s presence and protection.
In the Gospel, we see this promise beginning to unfold through the story of Joseph. Matthew’s account of Joseph’s response to Mary’s pregnancy highlights his deep trust in God’s plan, even in the face of uncertainty and potential scandal. Joseph, as a just and faithful man, could have chosen a different path, but instead, he listened to the Angel’s message and obeyed without hesitation. His actions demonstrate the kind of faith that allows God’s will to take precedence over human plans. The Gospel also reminds us that the birth of Jesus fulfills the prophecy from Isaiah, where Emmanuel, “God with us,” comes to dwell among his people.
These readings challenge us to reflect on how we trust in God’s plan in our own lives. Like Joseph, we are often faced with unexpected situations that require us to let go of our own understanding and instead rely on God’s wisdom. Jeremiah’s prophecy encourages us to have hope, knowing that God is always working to bring about justice and salvation. As we strive to live out our faith, may we imitate Joseph’s obedience and trust in God’s plan, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. Let us remember that God is always with us, guiding us toward his will, and may we, like Mary and Joseph, say “yes” to whatever he asks of us.