Daily Readings - Mon Dec 21 2020
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
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the themes of joy, trust, and the presence of God in our lives. The first reading from Zephaniah is a prophetic call to rejoice, urging the people to shout with joy because the Lord has removed judgment and is in their midst. This passage, set in a time of hope after judgment, reminds us that God’s presence brings salvation and comfort. Similarly, the Gospel from Luke recounts the Visitation, where Mary visits Elizabeth, and both women, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognize the divine presence among them. Elizabeth’s praise of Mary and the unborn John the Baptist highlights the power of faith and recognition of God’s work.
These readings are connected by the thread of joy and trust in God’s plan. Zephaniah’s message is one of hope after repentance, while Luke’s narrative shows the early signs of God’s plan for salvation through Jesus. Both emphasize that recognizing God’s presence leads to joy and trust. The leaping of John the Baptist in Elizabeth’s womb and her subsequent praise of Mary illustrate the immediate and profound impact of encountering God’s presence.
In our daily lives, we are called to cultivate this same joy and trust. Like Mary and Elizabeth, we can find joy in recognizing God’s presence, even in uncertain times. Trusting in God’s plan, as they did, allows us to face the future with faith. Let us reflect on how we can remain open to God’s presence and trust in His plan, finding joy in the knowledge that He is always with us. This reflection reminds us that faith and rejoicing in God’s presence are essential to our spiritual journey.