Daily Readings - Thu Dec 12 2019
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
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of joy and recognition of God's presence. The first reading from Zechariah 2:10-13 speaks of a future hope where God will dwell among His people, and many nations will join in worship. This passage, written in a post-exilic context, offers restoration and hope to Israel, promising a time when God's presence will be evident and inclusive.
The Gospel from Luke 1:39-47 shifts to the present reality of God's plan through the Visitation. Here, Mary, carrying Jesus, visits Elizabeth, who is filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth's joyful recognition of Mary as the mother of the Lord exemplifies faith and acknowledgment of God's work. This narrative is part of Luke's infancy story, highlighting the roles of these faithful women in God's plan.
Both readings connect through themes of joy and recognition of God's presence. Zechariah looks forward to a future dwelling of God, while Luke presents the present reality of God dwelling in Mary. This connection invites us to recognize God's presence in our lives, just as Elizabeth did, and to respond with joy and faith.
In our daily lives, we are called to trust in God's plan, even when unclear. Like Mary and Elizabeth, we should embrace God's will with joy, recognizing His presence in every moment. The moral lesson here is one of trust and rejoicing in God's plan, encouraging us to live with faith and joy, acknowledging God's presence in our midst.