Daily Readings - Tue Dec 19 2023
Judges
2There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children.3And the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.4Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean,5for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines."6Then the woman came and told her husband, "A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name,7but he said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.'"24And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the LORD blessed him.25And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Luke
5In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.6And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.8Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,9according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.10And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.11And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.12And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.13But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,15for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,17and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."18And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."19And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.20And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time."21And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.22And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute.23And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying,25"Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two remarkable stories of divine intervention, each centered around childless couples who are unexpectedly chosen by God for extraordinary purposes. The first reading from Judges introduces us to Manoah and his wife, who are visited by an angel announcing the birth of Samson, a Nazirite destined to save Israel. Similarly, the Gospel from Luke tells the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, who, despite their advanced age, are told by the angel Gabriel that they will have a son, John, who will prepare the way for the Lord. Both narratives highlight God's penchant for working through the unlikely and the humble, emphasizing themes of faith, trust, and obedience.
These stories, though separated by time, share a common thread: they illustrate God's ability to bring life and purpose into situations once deemed barren and hopeless. In both cases, the divine plan unfolds through unexpected means, challenging the protagonists to trust beyond human understanding. Samson's role as a deliverer and John's mission as a forerunner both underscore the idea that our lives are part of a larger divine narrative, where our roles, however big or small, contribute to God's grand plan.
Reflecting on these readings, we are reminded to embrace faith and trust in God's plan, especially when faced with challenges or uncertainties. They encourage us to remain open to God's surprises and to humbly accept the roles He assigns us. Just as Manoah's wife and Elizabeth trusted the angelic messages, we too can find strength in trusting God's promises. Let us draw inspiration from these stories, recognizing that our lives, like theirs, are part of a larger tapestry woven by God, where every thread is purposeful and meaningful.