Daily Readings - Thu Mar 19 2020

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?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.¹³He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.¹⁴I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,¹⁶And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'"

Romans

Chapter 4

¹³For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.¹⁶That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring--not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,¹⁷as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"--in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.¹⁸In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be."²²That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness."

Gospel - Matthew 1.16, 18-21, 24a or Luke 2.41-51a

Matthew

Chapter 1

¹⁶and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.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."²⁴When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,

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.

Sermon

The readings today weave together a beautiful tapestry of God’s promise, faith, and trust in His plan. In the first reading from 2 Samuel, Nathan speaks to David about the divine promise: a dynasty that will last forever, with God as a father to David’s offspring. This is not just a political promise but a spiritual one, rooted in God’s faithfulness and love. The second reading from Romans deepens this by highlighting Abraham’s faith. Paul reminds us that Abraham’s trust in God’s promise—to be the father of many nations—was not based on human effort or law but on grace and faith. This faith, Paul says, is the foundation of our relationship with God. In the Gospel, Matthew presents Joseph, a man of quiet faith, who trusts God’s plan even when it seems unexpected. An angel assures him that Mary’s child is of the Holy Spirit, and Joseph obediently accepts his role in God’s plan. These readings are deeply connected. The promise to David and the faith of Abraham find their fulfillment in Jesus, the Messiah, who is the ultimate expression of God’s faithfulness. Joseph’s trust in the face of uncertainty mirrors the faith of Abraham and the hope of David. Together, they remind us that God’s promises are not limited by human understanding or circumstances. They call us to trust in God’s timing and plan, even when the path ahead seems unclear. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own faith and trust in God. Like Abraham, we are called to hope beyond hope, to believe in God’s promises even when they seem impossible. Like Joseph, we are called to obedience and trust, even when the circumstances of our lives are challenging or unexpected. And like David, we are reminded that God’s faithfulness endures forever, even when our own efforts or plans may fail. May we, like these biblical figures, place our trust in God, knowing that His plan is always greater than our own.