Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 29, 2024
First Reading: 1 Samuel 1.20-22, 24-28
20And it happened that, in the course of days, Hannah conceived and bore a son. And she called his name Samuel, because she had requested him from the Lord21Now her husband Elkanah ascended with his entire house, so that he might immolate to the Lord a solemn sacrifice, with his vow22But Hannah did not go up. For she said to her husband, "I will not go, until the infant has been weaned, and until I may lead him, so that he may appear before the sight of the Lord, and may remain always there.24And after she had weaned him, she brought him with her, along with three calves, and three measures of flour, and a small bottle of wine, and she led him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. But the boy was still a young child25And they immolated a calf, and they presented the boy to Eli26And Hannah said: "I beg you, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord: I am that woman, who stood before you here, praying to the Lord27I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted to me my petition, which I asked of him28Because of this, I have also lent him to the Lord, for all the days when he shall be lent to the Lord." And they adored the Lord in that place. And Hannah prayed, and she said
Psalm 84
1Unto the end. For the wine and oil presses. A Psalm to the sons of Korah. How beloved are your tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!2My soul longs and faints for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh have exulted in the living God3For even the sparrow has found a home for himself, and the turtle-dove a nest for herself, where she may lay her young: your altars, O Lord of hosts, my king and my God4Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord. They will praise you from age to age5Blessed is the man whose help is from you. In his heart, he is disposed to ascen6from the valley of tears, from the place which he has determined7For even the lawgiver will provide a blessing; they will go from virtue to virtue. The God of gods will be seen in Zion8O Lord, God of hosts, hear my prayer. Pay attention, O God of Jacob9O God, gaze upon our protector, and look upon the face of your Christ10For one day in your courts is better than thousands elsewhere. I have chosen to be lowly in the house of my God, rather than to dwell in the tabernacles of sinners11For God loves mercy and truth. The Lord will give grace and glory12He will not withhold good things from those who walk in innocence. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who hopes in you
Second Reading: 1 John 3.1-2, 21-24
1See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we would be called, and would become, the sons of God. Because of this, the world does not know us, for it did not know him2Most beloved, we are now the sons of God. But what we shall be then has not yet appeared. We know that when he does appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is21Most beloved, if our heart does not reproach us, we can have confidence toward God22and whatever we shall request of him, we shall receive from him. For we keep his commandments, and we do the things that are pleasing in his sight23And this is his commandment: that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he has commanded us24And those who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And we know that he abides in us by this: by the Spirit, whom he has given to us
Gospel: Luke 2.41-52
41And his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the time of the solemnity of Passover42And when he had become twelve years old, they ascended to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast day43And having completed the days, when they returned, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem. And his parents did not realize this44But, supposing that he was in the company, they went a day’s journey, seeking him among their relatives and acquaintances45And not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him46And it happened that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, listening to them and questioning them47But all who listened to him were astonished over his prudence and his responses48And upon seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: "Son, why have you acted this way toward us? Behold, your father and I were seeking you in sorrow.49And he said to them: "How is it that you were seeking me? For did you not know that it is necessary for me to be in these things which are of my Father?50And they did not understand the word that he spoke to them51And he descended with them and went to Nazareth. And he was subordinate to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart52And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and in age, and in grace, with God and men
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful stories of faith, dedication, and spiritual growth. The first reading from 1 Samuel tells the story of Hannah, who, after years of barrenness, prays fervently for a son and promises to dedicate him to the Lord. When her prayer is answered, she faithfully keeps her vow, bringing Samuel to the temple to serve God. This act of surrender and trust in God's plan is a testament to her deep faith.
The second reading from 1 John reminds us of our identity as children of God and the love the Father has bestowed upon us. It emphasizes the importance of living according to God's commandments and loving one another. This passage encourages us to have confidence in God, knowing that when our hearts are aligned with His will, He hears our prayers and guides us.
The Gospel from Luke recounts the story of the young Jesus in the temple. After being separated from His parents, Jesus is found engaged in deep theological discussions, astonishing the scholars with His wisdom. When His parents express their concern, Jesus responds by affirming His divine mission, saying, "I must be in my Father's house." This moment highlights Jesus' dedication to His Father's will and His growth in wisdom and grace.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God. Like Hannah, we are called to trust in God's plan and surrender our lives to Him. Like the believers in 1 John, we are reminded to live out our faith by loving one another and keeping God's commandments. And like the young Jesus, we are encouraged to grow in wisdom and grace, staying attuned to God's will for our lives. May we, like Mary, treasure these words in our hearts and allow them to shape our journey of faith.