Daily Readings - Sun Dec 16 2018
Zephaniah
14Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!15The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.16On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.17The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."18"The sorrows for the appointed feasts I will remove from you; they are a burden and a reproach to you.
Philippians
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Luke
10"What should we do then?" the crowd asked.11John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."12Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"13"Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told14them. Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay."15The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.16John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.17His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."18And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of joy, trust, and living a life of integrity. In the first reading from Zephaniah, we hear a call to rejoice because God has removed judgment and is in our midst, offering strength and salvation. The prophet urges us not to fear but to trust in God’s presence and love. This message of hope is rooted in the context of a people who had faced exile and hardship but are now reminded of God’s faithfulness. The reading from Philippians echoes this call to joy, encouraging us to rejoice always and to let our requests be known to God with thanksgiving. St. Paul reminds us that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds if we approach life with prayer and humility.
In the Gospel, Luke presents John the Baptist, who prepares the people for the coming of the Messiah. John’s message is practical: he tells the crowd, tax collectors, and soldiers to live justly and compassionately. To those with extra, he says, “Give to those who have none.” To tax collectors, he advises fairness, and to soldiers, he urges non-violence and contentment. John’s words emphasize that true repentance is not just about feeling sorry but about changing how we live. He also points to one greater than himself, Jesus, who will bring the Holy Spirit and fire to purify and transform hearts.
These readings connect in their call to trust in God’s presence and to live in a way that reflects that trust. Zephaniah and Philippians encourage us to rejoice and not fear, while Luke’s Gospel challenges us to put our faith into action. In our daily lives, we are called to live with integrity, to share what we have, and to act justly in our relationships and work. Let us ask ourselves: Am I trusting in God’s presence? Am I living in a way that reflects His love and justice? May we, like John the Baptist, prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord by living lives of humility, compassion, and trust in God’s plan.