Daily Readings - Wed Dec 18 2019
Jeremiah
5"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.6In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'7"Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they shall no longer say, 'As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,'8but 'As the LORD lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.' Then they shall dwell in their own land."
Matthew
18Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.19And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.20But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.21She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:23"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel"(which means, God with us).24When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound messages of hope and trust. The prophet Jeremiah speaks of a future king from David’s lineage who will bring justice and restore Israel, shifting the people’s focus from past deliverances to God’s ongoing redemption. This prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus, as Matthew’s Gospel illustrates through Joseph’s story. Joseph, faced with Mary’s unexpected pregnancy, chooses obedience and trust, embodying the righteousness foretold by Jeremiah.
The context of Jeremiah’s prophecy is one of exile and longing, offering hope to a people in despair. Matthew’s narrative, set in the midst of ordinary life, shows God’s plan unfolding through unexpected events. Both readings highlight trust in God’s plan, even when circumstances are unclear. Jeremiah’s prophecy and Matthew’s story intertwine, illustrating that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise, Emmanuel, who is always with us.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust God’s presence, even in uncertainty. Like Joseph, we are called to obey and have faith, recognizing that God is actively present. The moral lesson here is the importance of trust and obedience, embracing God’s plan with confidence. Let us seek to live with such faith, knowing that God is with us, guiding us through life’s challenges.