Daily Readings - Sun Dec 31 2023
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 journey through the narratives of Abraham and Sarah, the faith of the early patriarchs, and the presentation of Jesus in the temple. The first reading from Genesis recounts God's covenant with Abraham, promising numerous descendants despite his and Sarah's advanced age. This story underscores God's faithfulness and the transformative power of trust. The second reading from Hebrews commends the faith of Abraham and Sarah, who believed God's promise against all odds, and Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac, illustrating unwavering trust in God's plan. The Gospel from Luke presents Simeon, a man of deep faith, who recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, highlighting the fulfillment of God's promise and the spiritual struggle that accompanies it.
These readings intertwine to reveal the central theme of faith and trust in God's promises. Abraham and Sarah's story shows that faith can lead to miraculous outcomes, even in the face of impossibility. Hebrews commends their faith as a model for believers, emphasizing that true faith leads to actions that align with God's will. In Luke, Simeon's recognition of Jesus as the Messiah illustrates the fulfillment of God's promise and the spiritual challenges that accompany it, reminding us that faith is not without its trials.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to trust in God's plan, even when circumstances seem insurmountable. Like Abraham and Sarah, we are called to have faith in God's promises, knowing that He is faithful. Like Simeon, we are to recognize the fulfillment of God's plan in our lives and be prepared for the spiritual struggles that come with it. The moral lesson is clear: faith is not just belief but trust in action, leading us to align our lives with God's will, even when the path is uncertain. Let us, therefore, embrace faith as Abraham and Sarah did, trusting in God's promises and living out our faith in obedience and trust.