Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 21, 2023
First Reading: Zephaniah 3.14-18a or Song of Solomon 2.8-14
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.
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.
Psalm 33
1Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.2Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.3Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.4For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.5He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.6By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.7He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.8Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.9For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.10The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.11The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.13The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.14From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.15He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.16There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.17An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.18Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;19To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.20Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.21For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.22Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
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
The first reading from Zephaniah invites us to rejoice and exult with all our hearts, for the Lord has taken away judgment and turned aside our foes. This prophet speaks to a people who have endured hardship and judgment, but now they are called to trust in God’s presence and salvation. The Lord is in their midst, and they need no longer fear evil. Zephaniah’s words are a call to hope and joy, reminding us that even in the darkest times, God’s love and strength are with us. The reading concludes with a promise of gathering and restoration, emphasizing that God’s people will no longer suffer disgrace.
The Gospel from Luke presents a beautiful scene of encounter and joy. Mary, having received the news of her pregnancy with Jesus, travels to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who is also pregnant with John the Baptist. Upon Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, and her unborn child leaps for joy. Elizabeth’s words of praise and recognition of Mary as the mother of the Lord highlight the profound moment of grace and faith. Mary’s visitation is not just a family visit but a spiritual encounter that reveals the miracle of life and the presence of God. Elizabeth’s exclamation, “Blessed are you who believed,” underscores the importance of faith and trust in God’s promises.
These readings are deeply connected by the theme of joy and trust in God’s presence. Zephaniah calls us to rejoice because the Lord is in our midst, while Luke’s account shows us how faith and trust in God’s plan can lead to moments of profound joy and encounter. In our daily lives, we are invited to trust in God’s promises, even when the path is uncertain. Like Mary, we are called to say “yes” to God’s will, knowing that He is always with us. Let us cultivate the kind of faith that allows us to rejoice in the midst of challenges, knowing that God’s love and strength are our constant companions. May we, like Elizabeth, recognize the presence of God in those around us and respond with hearts full of joy and gratitude.