Daily Readings - Mon Mar 19 2018

First Reading - 2 Samuel 7.4-5a, 12-14a, 16

⁴And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,⁵Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?¹²And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.¹³He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.¹⁴I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:¹⁶And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

Second Reading - Romans 4.13, 16-18, 22

Romans

Chapter 4

¹³For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.¹⁶Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,¹⁷As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.¹⁸Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.²²And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Gospel - Matthew 1.16, 18-21, 24a

Matthew

Chapter 1

¹⁶And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.¹⁹Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.²⁰But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.²¹And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.²⁴Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust, faith, and God’s unwavering promises. In the first reading from 2 Samuel, we hear Nathan’s prophecy to David, where God assures him that his dynasty will endure forever and that his throne will be established for eternity. This promise is not a reward for David’s achievements but a testament to God’s faithfulness and plan. It reminds us that God’s promises are not limited by human failure or success but are rooted in His divine will. The second reading from Romans deepens this theme by highlighting the faith of Abraham, who trusted God’s promise even when it seemed impossible. Paul emphasizes that Abraham’s justification came not through works or the law but through faith. This teaches us that our relationship with God is rooted in trust and grace. Just as Abraham believed in God’s power to bring life out of nothingness, we are called to have faith in God’s plan, even when circumstances seem uncertain or beyond our control. In the Gospel, we see this trust lived out in Joseph, who despite the unexpected and challenging situation of Mary’s pregnancy, chose to obey God’s will. The Angel reassures him, “Do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home,” and Joseph’s obedience becomes a pivotal moment in the story of salvation. This reminds us that faith is not passive but active—it requires us to step out in trust, even when the path is unclear. Today’s readings call us to reflect on our own trust in God’s promises. Like David, Abraham, and Joseph, we are invited to surrender our fears and doubts to God’s plan. In our daily lives, this means trusting that God is at work even in the midst of challenges, and being obedient to His will, even when it requires sacrifice or courage. May we, like these biblical figures, grow in faith and allow God’s promises to shape our lives, knowing that His plan is always greater than our own.