Daily Readings - Sun Dec 08 2024
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of preparation, hope, and living a virtuous life. The first reading from Baruch speaks to Jerusalem, urging her to cast off sorrow and embrace the eternal glory given by God. This passage, likely written during the Babylonian exile, offers hope of redemption and return, emphasizing God's promise to lead His people with joy into His majestic light. The second reading from Philippians expresses Paul's gratitude and confidence in the Philippians' spiritual journey. He prays for their love to abound with knowledge and understanding, so they may live blamelessly and bear fruit in their lives, glorifying God. The Gospel from Luke introduces John the Baptist, who calls for repentance and preparation for the Lord's coming, quoting Isaiah's imagery of leveling paths and straightening roads, symbolizing spiritual readiness.
These readings connect through the idea of preparation and living in accordance with God's will. Baruch and Luke both highlight the need to prepare for God's glory, while Philippians emphasizes living a life that reflects virtuous growth. Together, they remind us that our faith journey requires continuous preparation and a commitment to living in a way that aligns with God's plan.
In our daily lives, we are called to embrace this preparation. We can do so by reflecting on our actions and intentions, ensuring they align with God's will. Like John the Baptist, we should be voices calling others to repentance and readiness. As Paul prayed for the Philippians, we too can pray for the grace to grow in love and understanding, living lives that are fruitful and pleasing to God. Let us strive to walk diligently in God's honor, trusting in His plan and promises, and may we always be prepared to receive His grace and live in His light.