Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 23, 2018
First Reading: Micah 5.2-5a
2But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.3Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.4And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.5And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.
Psalm 80
1Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.2Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us.3Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.4O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?5Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.6Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.7Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.8Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.9Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land.10The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars.11She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river.12Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?13The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.14Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;15And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself.16It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.17Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.18So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.19Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
Second Reading: Hebrews 10.5-10
5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.7Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.8Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Gospel: Luke 1.39-45
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 journey through prophecy, fulfillment, and the power of faith, each offering a unique perspective on God's plan and our role within it. The first reading from Micah sets the stage with a prophecy of a ruler born in Bethlehem, emphasizing humility and the promise of peace. This prophecy is not just a forecast but a testament to God's meticulous plan, highlighting Bethlehem's significance despite its small size. It reminds us that greatness often emerges from humble beginnings, a theme central to Jesus' birth and mission.
The second reading from Hebrews bridges the prophecy with its fulfillment through Jesus. It explains that Jesus' sacrifice replaces traditional offerings, embodying God's will and providing a once-for-all atonement. This passage underscores the depth of Jesus' obedience and the efficacy of his sacrifice, which sanctifies us. It invites us to reflect on the profound impact of Jesus' life and death, urging us to embrace God's will with similar dedication.
In Luke's Gospel, we witness the visitation where Mary's faith is met with Elizabeth's joyful recognition of the divine. This encounter illustrates the immediate impact of the Incarnation, as John the Baptist leaps in recognition of Jesus' presence. Mary's faith and trust in God's plan serve as a model for us, encouraging us to embrace our roles in God's narrative with trust and humility.
As we reflect on these readings, we are reminded to trust in God's plan, even when circumstances seem uncertain. Like Mary, we are called to say "yes" to God's will, understanding that our faith can inspire others. Let us approach each day with the humility of Bethlehem, the obedience of Jesus, and the faith of Mary, allowing God's peace to reign in our hearts. In doing so, we not only fulfill our part in God's story but also become beacons of hope and joy to those around us.