Daily Readings - Sun Dec 24 2017
2 Samuel
1Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,2the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent."3And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you."4But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan,5"Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in?8Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel.9And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,11from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.12When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.14I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,16And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'"
Romans
25Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages26but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith--27to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Luke
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.28And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.30And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."34And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"35And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God.36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.37For nothing will be impossible with God."38And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through a narrative of promise, fulfillment, and universal revelation. The first reading from 2 Samuel 7 recounts God's covenant with David, where God promises to establish his dynasty, a house that will endure forever. This promise, however, is not about David building a physical structure for God, but about God building a spiritual legacy through David's descendants. The second reading from Romans 16:25-27 illuminates the universal scope of God's plan, revealing a mystery hidden for ages but now made known through the Gospel, emphasizing God's wisdom and the obedience of faith. The Gospel from Luke 1:26-38 presents the Annunciation, where Mary, with faith and obedience, accepts God's plan to bear Jesus, the Son of God, fulfilling the promise made to David.
These readings are deeply interconnected, illustrating the progression of God's plan from a specific covenant with David to the universal revelation of Jesus Christ. The promise to David finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, who as a descendant of David, establishes a kingdom that will have no end. Mary's response exemplifies the faith and trust required to participate in God's plan, mirroring the obedience of faith spoken of in Romans.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our trust in God's plan. Like Mary, we are called to embrace God's will with faith, even when it seems uncertain. The readings remind us that our lives are part of a larger narrative, a universal plan of salvation that transcends time and space. As we navigate our own challenges, let us draw strength from Mary's example, trusting in God's providence and remaining open to His will. In doing so, we participate in the ongoing story of God's kingdom, a story that continues to unfold in our lives today.