Daily Readings - Sun Dec 30 2018

²⁰And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the LORD."²¹The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow.²²But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the LORD and dwell there forever."²⁴And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. And the child was young.²⁵Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.²⁶And she said, "Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD.²⁷For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him.²⁸Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD."And he worshiped the LORD there.

1 John

Chapter 3

¹See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.²Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.²¹Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;²²and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.²³And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.²⁴Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

Luke

Chapter 2

⁴¹Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.⁴²And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.⁴³And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,⁴⁴but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,⁴⁵and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.⁴⁷And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.⁴⁸And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress."⁴⁹And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"⁵⁰And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.⁵¹And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.⁵²And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter powerful stories of faith, dedication, and the profound relationship between God and His people. The first reading from 1 Samuel tells us of Hannah, a woman who, after years of barrenness, prays fervently for a child and promises to dedicate him to the Lord. When her prayer is answered, she keeps her vow, bringing her young son Samuel to the temple to serve God. This story highlights the depth of Hannah’s faith and her willingness to surrender her greatest gift back to the One who gave it to her. The second reading from 1 John reminds us of our identity as children of God and the immense love the Father has for us. John emphasizes that we are called to live in accordance with God’s commandments, particularly the commandment to love one another. This love is not abstract but is demonstrated through our actions and our relationship with God. John also assures us that when we keep God’s commandments, we can have confidence in His presence and provision in our lives. The Gospel from Luke presents the story of the young Jesus in the temple. At just twelve years old, Jesus is already demonstrating a deep understanding of His mission and identity. When Mary and Joseph find Him engaged in discussion with the teachers of the law, Jesus responds by saying, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” This moment reveals the beginning of Jesus’ public life and His unwavering focus on His Father’s will. Mary, in her wisdom, “kept all these things in her heart,” reflecting on the mystery of her Son’s divine mission. These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and our commitment to living out our faith. Like Hannah, we are called to trust in God’s plan and to surrender our lives and gifts to Him. Like the Beloved Disciple, we are reminded that our identity as children of God is rooted in love and obedience. And like Mary, we are invited to ponder the mystery of God’s work in our lives and to support one another in fulfilling our unique callings. May we, like Jesus, remain focused on our Father’s will, and may we, with Mary, treasure these truths in our hearts.