Daily Readings - Tue Dec 21 2021
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 profound messages of joy and trust in God's presence. The first reading from Zephaniah invites us to rejoice, for God has removed judgment and is our strength, dwelling among us. This prophetic text speaks to a restored Israel, offering hope and assurance of God's abiding presence. The Gospel from Luke narrates the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, where the unborn John the Baptist leaps in recognition of Jesus's presence in Mary's womb. Elizabeth's praise and recognition of Mary's blessedness highlight the significance of faith and the joy that comes from encountering God.
Both readings connect through themes of joy and God's presence. Zephaniah's vision of a joyful community reflects God's intimate dwelling among His people, while Luke's narrative shows Mary as the bearer of God, bringing joy to those around her. This connection underscores that God's presence is not distant but deeply personal, inviting us to trust and rejoice.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to recognize God's presence and find joy in it. Like Mary, we are called to trust in God's plan, even when it seems uncertain. The visitation story reminds us that faith leads to encounters with God, bringing joy and transformation. Let us embrace this trust and seek God's presence in our lives, allowing His joy to inspire our actions and decisions.