Daily Readings - Mon Dec 24 2018

2 Samuel

1After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him,2he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."3Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you."4That night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:5"Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?8"Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel.9I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth.10And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning11and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. "'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you:12When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.16Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.'"

Luke

67His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:68"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David70(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us--72to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,73the oath he swore to our father Abraham:74to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,77to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,78because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven79to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter profound expressions of God’s promise and fulfillment. The first reading from 2 Samuel recounts Nathan’s prophetic message to King David, assuring him that God will establish his house and dynasty forever. David, humbled by God’s favor, had desired to build a temple for the Lord, but instead, the Lord promises to build a lasting kingdom through David’s descendants. This exchange highlights God’s initiative in shaping history and His plan to create a people and a place where His presence will dwell. The reading reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways, and His plans often surpass our human ambitions. The Gospel reading from Luke presents Zechariah’s beautiful prophecy, known as the Benedictus. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Zechariah praises God for the fulfillment of His promises, particularly through the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He connects the dots between the ancient promises to Abraham and David and the salvation that is now unfolding. Zechariah’s words emphasize that God’s mercy and faithfulness are at the heart of His plan to redeem His people. Just as the Lord raised up a horn of salvation in the house of David, He continues to bring light and peace to those who sit in darkness. These readings invite us to reflect on the ways God works in our lives and in the world. Just as David trusted in God’s plan, even when it seemed to delay his own desires, we too are called to trust in God’s timing and providence. Zechariah’s prophecy reminds us that we are part of a larger story—one of salvation and redemption. In our daily lives, we can apply this by seeking to align our wills with God’s, trusting that He is always working for our good and the good of all. Let us, like David and Zechariah, cultivate humility, gratitude, and faith, knowing that God’s promises are always fulfilled in His own perfect way.