Daily Readings - Wed Dec 12 2018
First Reading - Zechariah 2.10-13 or Revelation 11.19a; 12.1, 3-6a, 10ab
Zechariah
10Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.11And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.12And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.13Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
Revelation
19And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
1And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:3And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.4And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.5And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Luke
39And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;40And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.41And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:42And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?44For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.45And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.46And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the presence of God in our lives and the joy that comes from trusting in His plan. In the first reading from Zechariah, we hear a prophetic message of hope and joy. The prophet announces that God will dwell in the midst of His people, and many nations will join Israel in worshiping the Lord. This passage was written during a time of great uncertainty for the people of Israel, who were struggling to rebuild their lives after exile. Zechariah’s words remind them—and us—that God’s presence is not limited to a particular place or time but is universal and eternal. The Lord will come to dwell among His people, and all flesh will stand in awe of His majesty.
In the Gospel, we find a beautiful scene from Luke’s infancy narrative. Mary, having just received the news of her pregnancy through the Angel Gabriel, travels to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who is also with child. When Mary greets Elizabeth, the unborn John the Baptist leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, praises Mary for her faith. Mary, in turn, breaks into a song of praise, magnifying the Lord and rejoicing in God her Savior. This passage highlights the profound connection between these two women and the miraculous work of God in their lives. It also underscores the importance of trust and faith in God’s plan, as both Elizabeth and Mary embrace their roles in the divine plan with humility and joy.
These readings are deeply connected, as they both point to the presence and action of God in the world. In Zechariah, we see God’s promise to dwell among His people, and in Luke, we see the fulfillment of that promise in the coming of Jesus. Both readings also emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit, who fills Elizabeth and inspires her to recognize the blessedness of Mary and the fruit of her womb. As we reflect on these passages, let us ask ourselves: Do we trust in God’s plan for our lives? Are we open to the movement of the Holy Spirit in our hearts? And do we rejoice in the presence of God, who dwells among us and within us? May we, like Mary and Elizabeth, embrace God’s will with faith and joy, and may our lives be a testament to His love and presence in the world.