Daily Readings - Sun Dec 19 2021
Micah
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.
Hebrews
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.
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 profound messages that guide us toward a deeper understanding of faith and trust in God. The first reading from Micah prophesies the birth of a ruler in Bethlehem, signifying hope and peace amidst turmoil. This prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus, emphasizing His divine mission. The second reading from Hebrews highlights Jesus' role as the perfect sacrifice, surpassing the old covenant's offerings, and underscores His obedience to God's will. In the Gospel, Luke narrates the visitation where Mary's faith is praised, and the unborn John the Baptist recognizes Jesus as Lord, illustrating the power of faith and recognition of God's presence.
These readings interconnect by pointing to Jesus as our savior, whose birth and mission bring hope and redemption. Micah sets the stage for Jesus' arrival, Hebrews explains His sacrifice, and Luke shows the early acknowledgment of His divinity. Together, they remind us that faith and trust in God are essential. In our daily lives, we are called to emulate Mary's faith, trusting God's plan even when uncertain. Like Elizabeth, we should recognize God's presence and rejoice in His work.
The moral lesson here is the importance of living with faith and trust. Just as Mary and Elizabeth trusted God, we too can find peace and strength by surrendering to His will. Let us embrace this trust, allowing it to guide our actions and decisions, and may our faith in God bring us joy and fulfillment.