Daily Readings - Mon Mar 20 2023
2 Samuel
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
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
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
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
In today's readings, we encounter profound themes of faith, trust, and the fulfillment of God's promises. The first reading from 2 Samuel recounts Nathan's message to David, highlighting God's promise to establish David's kingdom forever and the future Messiah's role in building a house for God. This sets the stage for understanding God's covenant with His people.
The second reading from Romans expands on this promise, emphasizing that Abraham's faith, rather than adherence to the law, was the foundation of God's covenant. This underscores the universal nature of God's grace, extending beyond the Jewish people to all who have faith.
The Gospel from Matthew brings these themes to fruition through the story of Joseph. Joseph's trust in God's plan, despite the unexpected circumstances of Mary's pregnancy, exemplifies the kind of faith that accepts God's will without question. The angel's message assures Joseph that the child is of the Holy Spirit, reinforcing the divine nature of Jesus' mission to save humanity from sin.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own faith and trust in God's promises. Like Joseph, we are called to embrace God's plan, even when it challenges our understanding. In our daily lives, we can apply this by trusting in God's providence, even in uncertain times. The moral lesson here is clear: faith and trust in God's promises lead us to fulfill our role in His divine plan, just as they did for David, Abraham, and Joseph.
In conclusion, today's readings remind us that God's promises are fulfilled in unexpected ways, and our response should be one of unwavering faith and trust. Let us strive to emulate the examples of David, Abraham, and Joseph, trusting in God's plan and living out our faith in everyday life.