Daily Readings - Sat Dec 21 2024

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 powerful themes of joy and trust in God’s providence. The Prophet Zephaniah invites us to rejoice because God has removed judgment and now dwells among His people, bringing salvation and gladness. This passage, written in a time of impending judgment, offers a hopeful vision of God’s presence and deliverance. Similarly, the Gospel from Luke presents the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, where the Holy Spirit fills Elizabeth, and she praises Mary for her faith. This scene highlights the joy of encountering God’s presence and the importance of trusting in His plan. These readings connect through their emphasis on joy and trust. Zephaniah’s prophecy of God’s presence is fulfilled in Luke as Mary carries Jesus, embodying God’s presence. Both readings illustrate that trusting God leads to joy, as seen in Mary’s faith and Elizabeth’s recognition of the Holy Spirit. This connection underscores the fulfillment of prophecy and the joy inherent in trusting God. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to trust God and find joy in His presence, even in challenging times. Like Mary and Elizabeth, we are called to embrace faith and recognize God’s work around us. The moral lesson here is clear: faith and trust in God lead to joy and a deeper connection with Him. Let us, therefore, approach each day with the confidence that God is with us, bringing us joy and peace.