Daily Readings - Sun Dec 22 2024
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 weave together prophecy, fulfillment, and the essence of God's plan. The first reading from Micah prophesizes the coming of a ruler from Bethlehem, emphasizing God's eternal plan for salvation amidst Israel's turmoil. This prophecy finds its fulfillment in the Gospel of Luke, where Mary, carrying Jesus, visits Elizabeth. The encounter is filled with joy and recognition of the divine presence, as Elizabeth praises Mary and the unborn John the Baptist leaps in celebration. The second reading from Hebrews bridges these narratives by explaining that Christ's sacrifice, once for all, fulfills God's will, replacing the old covenant's offerings with His own body.
These readings are intricately connected, illustrating the journey from prophecy to fulfillment and the theological significance of Christ's mission. Micah's prophecy sets the stage for the Messiah's arrival, while Luke's account shows the early signs of Jesus's divine nature. Hebrews deepens our understanding by highlighting the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice, which seals God's covenant with humanity.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's timing and plan. Just as Mary trusted the angel's message, we are called to embrace God's will with faith. The readings also remind us of the importance of selfless love and sacrifice, as exemplified by Christ. Let us reflect on how we can live out this call to trust and sacrifice, allowing God's plan to unfold in our lives. May we, like Mary and Elizabeth, rejoice in the divine presence around us and within us, living each day with hearts open to God's will.