Daily Readings - Sun Dec 16 2018
Zephaniah
14Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!15The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.16On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.17The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.18I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach.
Philippians
4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.5Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Luke
10And the crowds asked him, "What then shall we do?"11And he answered them, "Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise."12Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"13And he said to them, "Collect no more than you are authorized to do."14Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages."15As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,16John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."18So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of joy, trust, and living a life of integrity. In the first reading from Zephaniah, we hear a call to rejoice because God has removed judgment and is in our midst, offering strength and salvation. The prophet urges us not to fear but to trust in God’s presence and love. This message of hope is rooted in the context of a people who had faced exile and hardship but are now reminded of God’s faithfulness. The reading from Philippians echoes this call to joy, encouraging us to rejoice always and to let our requests be known to God with thanksgiving. St. Paul reminds us that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds if we approach life with prayer and humility.
In the Gospel, Luke presents John the Baptist, who prepares the people for the coming of the Messiah. John’s message is practical: he tells the crowd, tax collectors, and soldiers to live justly and compassionately. To those with extra, he says, “Give to those who have none.” To tax collectors, he advises fairness, and to soldiers, he urges non-violence and contentment. John’s words emphasize that true repentance is not just about feeling sorry but about changing how we live. He also points to one greater than himself, Jesus, who will bring the Holy Spirit and fire to purify and transform hearts.
These readings connect in their call to trust in God’s presence and to live in a way that reflects that trust. Zephaniah and Philippians encourage us to rejoice and not fear, while Luke’s Gospel challenges us to put our faith into action. In our daily lives, we are called to live with integrity, to share what we have, and to act justly in our relationships and work. Let us ask ourselves: Am I trusting in God’s presence? Am I living in a way that reflects His love and justice? May we, like John the Baptist, prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord by living lives of humility, compassion, and trust in God’s plan.