Daily Readings - Sun Dec 22 2024

²And you, Bethlehem Ephrata, are a little one among the thousands of Judah. From you will go forth he who shall be the ruler in Israel, and his landing place has been set from the beginning, from the days of eternity³Because of this, he will provide for them, even until the time in which she who bears him gives birth. And the remnant of his brothers will be converted to the sons of Israel⁴And he will stand firm and feed on the strength of the Lord, according to the sublime name of the Lord his God. And they will be converted, for now he will be magnified, even to the ends of the earth⁵And this man will be our peace, when the Assyrian will come into our land, and when he will trample on our houses; and we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight principal men

Hebrews

Chapter 10

⁵For this reason, as Christ enters into the world, he says: "Sacrifice and oblation, you did not want. But you have fashioned a body for me⁶Holocausts for sin were not pleasing to you⁷Then I said, ‘Behold, I draw near.’ At the head of the book, it has been written of me that I should do your will, O God.⁸In the above, by saying, "Sacrifices, and oblations, and holocausts for sin, you did not want, nor are those things pleasing to you, which are offered according to the law⁹then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,’ " he takes away the first, so that he may establish what follows¹⁰For by this will, we have been sanctified, through the one time oblation of the body of Jesus Christ

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.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter profound messages that weave together prophecy, fulfillment, and the essence of God's plan. The first reading from Micah prophesizes the coming of a ruler from Bethlehem, emphasizing God's eternal plan for salvation amidst Israel's turmoil. This prophecy finds its fulfillment in the Gospel of Luke, where Mary, carrying Jesus, visits Elizabeth. The encounter is filled with joy and recognition of the divine presence, as Elizabeth praises Mary and the unborn John the Baptist leaps in celebration. The second reading from Hebrews bridges these narratives by explaining that Christ's sacrifice, once for all, fulfills God's will, replacing the old covenant's offerings with His own body. These readings are intricately connected, illustrating the journey from prophecy to fulfillment and the theological significance of Christ's mission. Micah's prophecy sets the stage for the Messiah's arrival, while Luke's account shows the early signs of Jesus's divine nature. Hebrews deepens our understanding by highlighting the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice, which seals God's covenant with humanity. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's timing and plan. Just as Mary trusted the angel's message, we are called to embrace God's will with faith. The readings also remind us of the importance of selfless love and sacrifice, as exemplified by Christ. Let us reflect on how we can live out this call to trust and sacrifice, allowing God's plan to unfold in our lives. May we, like Mary and Elizabeth, rejoice in the divine presence around us and within us, living each day with hearts open to God's will.