Daily Readings - Tue Dec 12 2017
First Reading - Zechariah 2.10-13 or Revelation 11.19a; 12.1, 3-6a, 10ab
Zechariah
10Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD.11And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.12And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem."13Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.
Revelation
19Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
1And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.3And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.4His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.5She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne,6and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.10And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
Luke
39In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,40and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,42and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!43And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?44For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."46And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of joy, faith, and the presence of God in our lives. In the first reading from Zechariah, the prophet announces a time of great rejoicing for the people of Zion. He speaks of a day when God will dwell in the midst of His people, and many nations will join themselves to the Lord. This passage is set in a time of hope and restoration for Israel, as they look forward to the fulfillment of God’s promises. The prophet’s words remind us that God’s presence is not limited to a particular place or people; it is universal and transformative.
In the Gospel, we find a beautiful moment of encounter between Mary and Elizabeth. Mary, carrying the unborn Jesus, visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is also with child. The moment Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting, the infant John the Baptist leaps in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, exclaims, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Mary’s response, the Magnificat, is a hymn of praise that reflects her deep faith and trust in God. This passage highlights the importance of faith and the joy that comes from recognizing God’s work in our lives.
These readings remind us that faith is not just an individual act but something that is lived out in community. Just as Mary and Elizabeth supported one another in their moments of grace, we too are called to recognize and celebrate the ways God is at work in the lives of those around us. The prophet Zechariah’s vision of God dwelling in the midst of His people is fulfilled in part through the incarnation of Jesus, who comes to live among us. As we go about our daily lives, may we, like Mary and Elizabeth, embrace the joy of God’s presence and share that joy with others. Let us trust in God’s promises and allow His Spirit to guide us in living out our faith with love and humility.