Daily Readings - Mon Dec 21 2020
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
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the themes of joy, trust, and the presence of God in our lives. The first reading from Zephaniah is a prophetic call to rejoice, urging the people to shout with joy because the Lord has removed judgment and is in their midst. This passage, set in a time of hope after judgment, reminds us that God’s presence brings salvation and comfort. Similarly, the Gospel from Luke recounts the Visitation, where Mary visits Elizabeth, and both women, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognize the divine presence among them. Elizabeth’s praise of Mary and the unborn John the Baptist highlights the power of faith and recognition of God’s work.
These readings are connected by the thread of joy and trust in God’s plan. Zephaniah’s message is one of hope after repentance, while Luke’s narrative shows the early signs of God’s plan for salvation through Jesus. Both emphasize that recognizing God’s presence leads to joy and trust. The leaping of John the Baptist in Elizabeth’s womb and her subsequent praise of Mary illustrate the immediate and profound impact of encountering God’s presence.
In our daily lives, we are called to cultivate this same joy and trust. Like Mary and Elizabeth, we can find joy in recognizing God’s presence, even in uncertain times. Trusting in God’s plan, as they did, allows us to face the future with faith. Let us reflect on how we can remain open to God’s presence and trust in His plan, finding joy in the knowledge that He is always with us. This reflection reminds us that faith and rejoicing in God’s presence are essential to our spiritual journey.