Daily Readings - Tue Dec 12 2017

First Reading - Zechariah 2.10-13 or Revelation 11.19a; 12.1, 3-6a, 10ab

¹⁰"Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you," declares the LORD.¹¹"Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.¹²The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.¹³Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling."

Revelation

Chapter 11

¹⁹Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.

Chapter 12

¹A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.³Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads.⁴His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born.⁵She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.⁶The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.¹⁰Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

Luke

Chapter 1

³⁹At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,⁴⁰where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth.⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.⁴²In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!⁴³But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?⁴⁴As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.⁴⁵Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"⁴⁶And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of joy, faith, and the presence of God in our lives. In the first reading from Zechariah, the prophet announces a time of great rejoicing for the people of Zion. He speaks of a day when God will dwell in the midst of His people, and many nations will join themselves to the Lord. This passage is set in a time of hope and restoration for Israel, as they look forward to the fulfillment of God’s promises. The prophet’s words remind us that God’s presence is not limited to a particular place or people; it is universal and transformative. In the Gospel, we find a beautiful moment of encounter between Mary and Elizabeth. Mary, carrying the unborn Jesus, visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is also with child. The moment Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting, the infant John the Baptist leaps in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, exclaims, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Mary’s response, the Magnificat, is a hymn of praise that reflects her deep faith and trust in God. This passage highlights the importance of faith and the joy that comes from recognizing God’s work in our lives. These readings remind us that faith is not just an individual act but something that is lived out in community. Just as Mary and Elizabeth supported one another in their moments of grace, we too are called to recognize and celebrate the ways God is at work in the lives of those around us. The prophet Zechariah’s vision of God dwelling in the midst of His people is fulfilled in part through the incarnation of Jesus, who comes to live among us. As we go about our daily lives, may we, like Mary and Elizabeth, embrace the joy of God’s presence and share that joy with others. Let us trust in God’s promises and allow His Spirit to guide us in living out our faith with love and humility.