Daily Readings - Tue Dec 19 2017
First Reading - Judges 13.2-7, 24-25a
Judges
2And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.3And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.4Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:5For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.6Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:7But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.24And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.25And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Gospel - Luke 1.5-25
Luke
5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.8And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,9According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.10And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.14And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.17And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.18And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.19And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.20And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.22And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.23And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.24And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,25Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound stories of divine intervention, where God announces the births of Samson and John the Baptist through angelic messengers. Both narratives share a common theme: God's ability to bring life and purpose into seemingly impossible circumstances. In Judges, an angel appears to the barren wife of Manoah, promising the birth of Samson, who will deliver Israel from oppression. Similarly, in Luke, the angel Gabriel announces to Zechariah that his wife Elizabeth will bear John, the forerunner of the Messiah. These stories highlight God's penchant for using unexpected and humble beginnings to fulfill His grand plans.
The context of these readings is deeply rooted in the historical and theological landscapes of their times. For the Israelites, Samson's birth comes during a period of oppression, signaling hope for deliverance. His role as a Nazirite, dedicated to God from birth, underscores the sacred mission he is destined to fulfill. In the Gospel of Luke, John the Baptist's birth marks the beginning of the fulfillment of God's promise of redemption. John's role, as one who will "prepare the way for the Lord," is pivotal in the narrative leading to Jesus Christ. Both stories emphasize God's initiative in breaking into human history to bring about salvation.
These readings beautifully illustrate how God's plans often unfold in unexpected ways. Both Samson and John are born to barren women, a testament to God's power to overcome human limitations. The presence of angels in both narratives serves as a reminder of God's direct involvement in human affairs. Samson's strength and John's prophetic voice are not mere human achievements but are divinely ordained. This relationship between the readings underscores the consistent theme of God's faithfulness and His ability to use any circumstance to achieve His will.
In our daily lives, these stories invite us to trust in God's plan, even when our circumstances seem impossible or unclear. They remind us that our limitations are not barriers to God's work. Just as He chose barren women to bear significant figures, He can use our challenges to bring about something extraordinary. The moral lesson here is one of faith and obedience. Like the mothers of Samson and John, we are called to trust in God's timing and promises, even when they seem beyond our understanding.
In reflecting on these readings, we are encouraged to embrace a deeper faith in God's providence. They teach us that our lives are part of a larger narrative, one that God is continually writing. As we face our own challenges and doubts, may we find courage in these stories, trusting that God's plan is always at work, even in the most unexpected ways. Let us, like these biblical figures, respond with faith and obedience, knowing that God's promises are always fulfilled in His perfect time.