Daily Readings - Tue Dec 19 2017
Judges
2There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children.3And the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.4Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean,5for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines."6Then the woman came and told her husband, "A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name,7but he said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.'"24And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the LORD blessed him.25And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Luke
5In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.6And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.8Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,9according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.10And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.11And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.12And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.13But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,15for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,17and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."18And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."19And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.20And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time."21And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.22And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute.23And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying,25"Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound stories of divine intervention, where God announces the births of Samson and John the Baptist through angelic messengers. Both narratives share a common theme: God's ability to bring life and purpose into seemingly impossible circumstances. In Judges, an angel appears to the barren wife of Manoah, promising the birth of Samson, who will deliver Israel from oppression. Similarly, in Luke, the angel Gabriel announces to Zechariah that his wife Elizabeth will bear John, the forerunner of the Messiah. These stories highlight God's penchant for using unexpected and humble beginnings to fulfill His grand plans.
The context of these readings is deeply rooted in the historical and theological landscapes of their times. For the Israelites, Samson's birth comes during a period of oppression, signaling hope for deliverance. His role as a Nazirite, dedicated to God from birth, underscores the sacred mission he is destined to fulfill. In the Gospel of Luke, John the Baptist's birth marks the beginning of the fulfillment of God's promise of redemption. John's role, as one who will "prepare the way for the Lord," is pivotal in the narrative leading to Jesus Christ. Both stories emphasize God's initiative in breaking into human history to bring about salvation.
These readings beautifully illustrate how God's plans often unfold in unexpected ways. Both Samson and John are born to barren women, a testament to God's power to overcome human limitations. The presence of angels in both narratives serves as a reminder of God's direct involvement in human affairs. Samson's strength and John's prophetic voice are not mere human achievements but are divinely ordained. This relationship between the readings underscores the consistent theme of God's faithfulness and His ability to use any circumstance to achieve His will.
In our daily lives, these stories invite us to trust in God's plan, even when our circumstances seem impossible or unclear. They remind us that our limitations are not barriers to God's work. Just as He chose barren women to bear significant figures, He can use our challenges to bring about something extraordinary. The moral lesson here is one of faith and obedience. Like the mothers of Samson and John, we are called to trust in God's timing and promises, even when they seem beyond our understanding.
In reflecting on these readings, we are encouraged to embrace a deeper faith in God's providence. They teach us that our lives are part of a larger narrative, one that God is continually writing. As we face our own challenges and doubts, may we find courage in these stories, trusting that God's plan is always at work, even in the most unexpected ways. Let us, like these biblical figures, respond with faith and obedience, knowing that God's promises are always fulfilled in His perfect time.