Daily Readings - Sun Dec 27 2020
Genesis
1After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great."2But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"3And Abram said, "Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir."4And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: "This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir."5And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."6And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
3Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him,4"Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.5No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.15And God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.16I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her."
1The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised.2And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.3Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac.4And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.5Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.6And Sarah said, "God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me."7And she said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."
Hebrews
8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.11By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.12Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,18of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."19He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
Luke
22And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.27And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed35(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."39And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.40And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful stories of faith, trust, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Abraham and Sarah, who, despite their advanced age and Sarah’s barrenness, trusted in God’s promise of a son. This narrative is a testament to the boundless nature of God’s power and the importance of unwavering faith. The second reading from Hebrews deepens this theme, highlighting how Abraham and Sarah’s faith led to the miraculous birth of Isaac, and how Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac demonstrates the depth of his trust in God’s plan. Finally, the Gospel from Luke presents Simeon, a man of deep faith, who recognizes the infant Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promise of salvation for all people.
These readings are deeply interconnected, as they all point to the transformative power of faith. Abraham and Sarah’s story shows us that God’s promises often unfold in ways we cannot anticipate, and that His timing is always perfect. The Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that faith is not merely intellectual assent but a radical surrender to God’s will, even when it demands great sacrifice. In the Gospel, Simeon’s encounter with Jesus reveals that faith is not just about waiting for God’s promises but also about recognizing and embracing them when they are fulfilled.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we respond to God’s promises in our own lives? Do we, like Abraham and Sarah, trust in His plan even when it seems impossible? Do we, like Simeon, rejoice in the fulfillment of His promises, even if they come in unexpected ways? Let us allow these stories to inspire us to deepen our faith and to trust more fully in God’s providence. May we, like Abraham, Sarah, and Simeon, be willing to surrender to God’s will, knowing that His plans for us are always greater than we can imagine.