Daily Readings - Sun Dec 05 2021
Philippians
3I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,4Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,5For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:8For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.9And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;10That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;11Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Luke
1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,2Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.3And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;4As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.5Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;6And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through themes of hope, assurance, and preparation, weaving a narrative from the Old Testament to the New. The first reading from Baruch paints a vivid picture of Jerusalem shedding sorrow and donning eternal glory, with God's promise of justice and honor. This post-exilic text speaks to a people yearning for restoration, envisioning a future where the scattered return, guided by God's light. The second reading from Philippians shifts focus to the present, with Paul expressing gratitude and confidence in God's ongoing work in the Philippians. He prays for their growth in charity and understanding, assuring them of spiritual completion.
The Gospel from Luke introduces John the Baptist, whose call to repentance and baptism echoes Isaiah's prophecy of preparing the Lord's way. This historical setting underscores the universal call to ready our hearts, leveling spiritual valleys and straightening crooked paths.
These readings intertwine beautifully, each addressing preparation and trust. Baruch's hope for Jerusalem's restoration mirrors the spiritual preparation John advocates, while Paul's assurance in God's work reflects the trust needed as we navigate our faith journeys.
In our daily lives, these themes call us to trust in God's plan and actively prepare our hearts. Just as Jerusalem awaited restoration and the Philippians trusted in God's work, we too can have faith in His guidance. Let us embrace repentance, live justly, and trust in God's promise to complete His work in us. As we prepare our hearts, may we walk in His light, ever ready for His glory.