Daily Readings - Sat Dec 12 2020
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
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound moments of joy and revelation. The first reading from Zechariah speaks of a time when God will dwell in the midst of His people, and many nations will join Israel in worshiping the Lord. This prophecy points to a future where God’s presence is universally acknowledged, and His people are united in His sanctified land. The passage invites us to silence and awe before the majesty of God, who arises from His holy dwelling place to fulfill His promises. The Gospel, on the other hand, brings us to the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, where the unborn John the Baptist leaps for joy at the presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, praises Mary for her faith and recognizes the blessedness of the fruit of her womb. Mary responds with the Magnificat, a hymn of praise that glorifies God for His mercy and faithfulness.
These readings are deeply connected. Zechariah’s prophecy of God’s dwelling among His people finds its fulfillment in the Gospel, where Mary carries the incarnate God within her. Just as Zechariah speaks of God’s presence bringing joy and unity to all nations, the Visitation reveals the joy of encountering God’s presence in the flesh. Elizabeth and Mary’s meeting is not just a personal encounter but a moment of divine revelation, where the Holy Spirit inspires recognition of God’s work. The leap of John the Baptist in Elizabeth’s womb symbolizes the universal rejoicing that Zechariah prophesied, as even the unborn child recognizes the presence of the Messiah.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to cultivate a deep awareness of God’s presence among us. Like Elizabeth, we are called to recognize the Lord’s visitation and to rejoice in His nearness. Mary’s faith and trust in God’s promises serve as a model for us, reminding us that our lives are not our own but are part of a larger plan to bring God’s love to the world. Let us, like Mary, magnify the Lord and allow our spirits to leap for joy in God our Savior. May we, too, be bearers of God’s presence, sharing the Good News with others and living as children of a merciful and faithful God.