Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 31, 2023
First Reading: Genesis 15.1-6; 17.3b-5, 15-16; 21.1-7
1After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.2And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?3And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.4And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.5And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.6And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
3And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,4As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.5Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.15And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.16And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
1And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.2For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.3And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.4And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.5And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.6And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.7And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
Psalm 105
1O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.2Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.3Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.4Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.5Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;6O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.7He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.8He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.9Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;10And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:11Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:12When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.13When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;14He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;15Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.16Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.17He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:18Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:19Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.20The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.21He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:22To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.23Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.24And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.25He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.26He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.27They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.28He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.29He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.30Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.31He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.32He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.33He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.34He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,35And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.36He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.37He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.38Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.39He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.40The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.41He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.42For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.43And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:44And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;45That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.
Second Reading: Hebrews 11.8, 11-12, 17-19
8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.11Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.12Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Gospel: Luke 2.22, 25-27, 34-35, 39-40
22And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;25And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.27And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,34And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;35Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.39And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.40And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through the narratives of Abraham and Sarah, the faith of the early patriarchs, and the presentation of Jesus in the temple. The first reading from Genesis recounts God's covenant with Abraham, promising numerous descendants despite his and Sarah's advanced age. This story underscores God's faithfulness and the transformative power of trust. The second reading from Hebrews commends the faith of Abraham and Sarah, who believed God's promise against all odds, and Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac, illustrating unwavering trust in God's plan. The Gospel from Luke presents Simeon, a man of deep faith, who recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, highlighting the fulfillment of God's promise and the spiritual struggle that accompanies it.
These readings intertwine to reveal the central theme of faith and trust in God's promises. Abraham and Sarah's story shows that faith can lead to miraculous outcomes, even in the face of impossibility. Hebrews commends their faith as a model for believers, emphasizing that true faith leads to actions that align with God's will. In Luke, Simeon's recognition of Jesus as the Messiah illustrates the fulfillment of God's promise and the spiritual challenges that accompany it, reminding us that faith is not without its trials.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to trust in God's plan, even when circumstances seem insurmountable. Like Abraham and Sarah, we are called to have faith in God's promises, knowing that He is faithful. Like Simeon, we are to recognize the fulfillment of God's plan in our lives and be prepared for the spiritual struggles that come with it. The moral lesson is clear: faith is not just belief but trust in action, leading us to align our lives with God's will, even when the path is uncertain. Let us, therefore, embrace faith as Abraham and Sarah did, trusting in God's promises and living out our faith in obedience and trust.