Daily Readings - Fri Dec 21 2018
First Reading - Zephaniah 3.14-18a or Song of Solomon 2.8-14
Zephaniah
14Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.15The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.16In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.17The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.18I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.
Song of Solomon
8The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.9My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.10My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.11For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;12The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;13The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.14O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
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.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful themes of joy and divine presence. The prophet Zephaniah invites us to rejoice, for God has removed judgment and fear, dwelling among His people to bring salvation. This message of hope was spoken to a people facing judgment, offering them a future filled with God's presence and joy. In the Gospel, Luke shares the visitation story where Mary, carrying Jesus, visits Elizabeth, who is filled with the Holy Spirit. The unborn John the Baptist leaps for joy, and Elizabeth praises Mary's faith, highlighting the Holy Spirit's active role in their lives.
Both readings connect through the theme of joy inspired by God's presence. Zephaniah's vision of a joyful community is fulfilled in Luke, where the Holy Spirit brings joy to Elizabeth and John. This connection reminds us that God's presence in our lives is a source of joy, even amidst challenges. The Holy Spirit's action in both readings underscores the transformative power of faith.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are reminded to trust in God's plan and recognize His presence, especially in uncertain times. Just as Mary trusted God's plan, leading to the joy of salvation, we too can find joy in our faith. The moral lesson here is the importance of trust and faith, allowing God's presence to bring us joy and peace. Let us embrace this joy, knowing God is always with us, guiding us with love.