Daily Readings - Wed Dec 12 2018
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 presence of God in our lives and the joy that comes from trusting in His plan. In the first reading from Zechariah, we hear a prophetic message of hope and joy. The prophet announces that God will dwell in the midst of His people, and many nations will join Israel in worshiping the Lord. This passage was written during a time of great uncertainty for the people of Israel, who were struggling to rebuild their lives after exile. Zechariah’s words remind them—and us—that God’s presence is not limited to a particular place or time but is universal and eternal. The Lord will come to dwell among His people, and all flesh will stand in awe of His majesty.
In the Gospel, we find a beautiful scene from Luke’s infancy narrative. Mary, having just received the news of her pregnancy through the Angel Gabriel, travels to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who is also with child. When Mary greets Elizabeth, the unborn John the Baptist leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, praises Mary for her faith. Mary, in turn, breaks into a song of praise, magnifying the Lord and rejoicing in God her Savior. This passage highlights the profound connection between these two women and the miraculous work of God in their lives. It also underscores the importance of trust and faith in God’s plan, as both Elizabeth and Mary embrace their roles in the divine plan with humility and joy.
These readings are deeply connected, as they both point to the presence and action of God in the world. In Zechariah, we see God’s promise to dwell among His people, and in Luke, we see the fulfillment of that promise in the coming of Jesus. Both readings also emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit, who fills Elizabeth and inspires her to recognize the blessedness of Mary and the fruit of her womb. As we reflect on these passages, let us ask ourselves: Do we trust in God’s plan for our lives? Are we open to the movement of the Holy Spirit in our hearts? And do we rejoice in the presence of God, who dwells among us and within us? May we, like Mary and Elizabeth, embrace God’s will with faith and joy, and may our lives be a testament to His love and presence in the world.