Daily Readings - Mon Dec 24 2018
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.16And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'"
Luke
67And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people69and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,70as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,71that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;72to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,73the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us74that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,77to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,78because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound expressions of God’s promise and fulfillment. The first reading from 2 Samuel recounts Nathan’s prophetic message to King David, assuring him that God will establish his house and dynasty forever. David, humbled by God’s favor, had desired to build a temple for the Lord, but instead, the Lord promises to build a lasting kingdom through David’s descendants. This exchange highlights God’s initiative in shaping history and His plan to create a people and a place where His presence will dwell. The reading reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways, and His plans often surpass our human ambitions.
The Gospel reading from Luke presents Zechariah’s beautiful prophecy, known as the Benedictus. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Zechariah praises God for the fulfillment of His promises, particularly through the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He connects the dots between the ancient promises to Abraham and David and the salvation that is now unfolding. Zechariah’s words emphasize that God’s mercy and faithfulness are at the heart of His plan to redeem His people. Just as the Lord raised up a horn of salvation in the house of David, He continues to bring light and peace to those who sit in darkness.
These readings invite us to reflect on the ways God works in our lives and in the world. Just as David trusted in God’s plan, even when it seemed to delay his own desires, we too are called to trust in God’s timing and providence. Zechariah’s prophecy reminds us that we are part of a larger story—one of salvation and redemption. In our daily lives, we can apply this by seeking to align our wills with God’s, trusting that He is always working for our good and the good of all. Let us, like David and Zechariah, cultivate humility, gratitude, and faith, knowing that God’s promises are always fulfilled in His own perfect way.