Daily Readings - Sat Dec 21 2019
First Reading - Zephaniah 3.14-18a or Song of Solomon 2.8-14
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.
Song of Solomon
8The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills.9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, there he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, looking through the lattice.10My beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away,11for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.12The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.13The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.14O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
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."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of joy, hope, and God's presence among His people. The first reading from Zephaniah invites us to rejoice, for God has removed judgment and fear, promising to dwell in our midst. This prophetic text, written in a time of repentance, offers a vision of salvation where God's people are filled with gladness and exultation. The second reading from Luke's Gospel presents the Visitation, where Mary's visit to Elizabeth sparks a joyful encounter. The unborn John the Baptist leaps in recognition of Mary's presence, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, praises Mary's faith.
These readings are deeply connected, both emphasizing the theme of God's presence bringing joy. Zephaniah's prophecy of God dwelling among His people is fulfilled in the Gospel, where the Holy Spirit's action in Elizabeth and John illustrates God's active presence. This connection reminds us that our faith is rooted in a God who is ever-present and active in our lives.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to trust in God's presence and to embrace His joy. Just as Mary and Elizabeth trusted God's plan, we can face life's challenges with faith, knowing God is with us. The moral lesson here is the transformative power of faith and joy. By trusting in God's plan and being open to the Holy Spirit, we can experience true joy and peace, even amidst life's trials. Let us allow God's presence to fill us with joy, guiding us to live faithfully and trustingly, just as Mary and Elizabeth did.