Daily Readings - Fri Dec 22 2017

²⁴After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh.²⁵When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli,²⁶and she said to him, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD.²⁷I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.²⁸So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there.

Luke

Chapter 1

⁴⁶And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,⁴⁸for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,⁴⁹for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name.⁵⁰His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.⁵¹He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.⁵²He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful⁵⁵to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."⁵⁶Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful acts of faith and surrender to God’s will. The first reading from 1 Samuel tells the story of Hannah, who, after years of infertility, prays fervently for a child. When God blesses her with Samuel, she fulfills her vow to dedicate him to the Lord, bringing him to the temple at Shiloh. This act of surrender is not just about giving her son to God but also about trusting in God’s plan, even when it requires great sacrifice. The Gospel reading is Mary’s Magnificat, a hymn of praise and thanksgiving. Mary, upon visiting her cousin Elizabeth, recognizes the greatness of what God has done in her life and proclaims His mercy, justice, and faithfulness. Both Hannah and Mary exemplify a deep trust in God and a willingness to surrender their lives to His will. The context of these readings reveals the profound faith of two women in different circumstances. Hannah, in her vulnerability and longing for a child, turns to God in prayer and keeps her promise to Him. Mary, though young and faced with the unexpected news of bearing the Messiah, accepts her role with humility and joy. Both stories highlight the theme of surrender and trust in God’s providence. They remind us that our lives are not our own but are part of a larger story that God is writing. Their examples invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God—do we trust Him enough to surrender our plans, our fears, and our desires to His will? These readings call us to apply this spirit of surrender and trust to our daily lives. Like Hannah and Mary, we are invited to recognize God’s presence and action in our lives, even in moments of uncertainty or difficulty. Surrendering to God’s will does not mean passivity; it means actively trusting that He is working for our good and the good of others. Let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to let go of control and place our lives in God’s hands? Are we open to seeing His mercy and faithfulness in our own stories? By imitating the faith of Hannah and Mary, we can deepen our trust in God and live with greater joy, humility, and purpose.