Daily Readings - Sun Dec 05 2021
Philippians
3I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,4always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.6And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.8For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.9And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,10so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Luke
1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.3And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.4As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.5Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways,6and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through themes of hope, assurance, and preparation, weaving a narrative from the Old Testament to the New. The first reading from Baruch paints a vivid picture of Jerusalem shedding sorrow and donning eternal glory, with God's promise of justice and honor. This post-exilic text speaks to a people yearning for restoration, envisioning a future where the scattered return, guided by God's light. The second reading from Philippians shifts focus to the present, with Paul expressing gratitude and confidence in God's ongoing work in the Philippians. He prays for their growth in charity and understanding, assuring them of spiritual completion.
The Gospel from Luke introduces John the Baptist, whose call to repentance and baptism echoes Isaiah's prophecy of preparing the Lord's way. This historical setting underscores the universal call to ready our hearts, leveling spiritual valleys and straightening crooked paths.
These readings intertwine beautifully, each addressing preparation and trust. Baruch's hope for Jerusalem's restoration mirrors the spiritual preparation John advocates, while Paul's assurance in God's work reflects the trust needed as we navigate our faith journeys.
In our daily lives, these themes call us to trust in God's plan and actively prepare our hearts. Just as Jerusalem awaited restoration and the Philippians trusted in God's work, we too can have faith in His guidance. Let us embrace repentance, live justly, and trust in God's promise to complete His work in us. As we prepare our hearts, may we walk in His light, ever ready for His glory.