Daily Readings - Tue Mar 19 2019

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?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.¹³He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.¹⁴I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men.¹⁶Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.'"

Romans

Chapter 4

¹³It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.¹⁶Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.¹⁷As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.¹⁸Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."²²This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."

Gospel - Matthew 1.16, 18-21, 24a or Luke 2.41-51a

Matthew

Chapter 1

¹⁶and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.¹⁸This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.¹⁹Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."²⁴When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Luke

Chapter 2

⁴¹Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.⁴²When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.⁴³After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.⁴⁴Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.⁴⁵When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.⁴⁷Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.⁴⁸When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."⁴⁹"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"⁵⁰But they did not understand what he was saying to them.⁵¹Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust, faith, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. In the first reading from 2 Samuel, Nathan delivers a message from God to David, promising that David’s dynasty will endure forever and that his son will build a house for the Lord. This passage is rooted in the context of David’s desire to build a temple for God, but God instead reverses the offer, promising to establish David’s throne and family line permanently. This is a moment of profound trust for David, as he learns to surrender his plans to God’s greater design. The second reading from Romans deepens this theme of trust and faith. Paul explains that Abraham’s faith, not his adherence to the law, made him the father of many nations. Abraham trusted God’s promise even when it seemed impossible, and this trust was credited to him as righteousness. Paul emphasizes that the promise of salvation is not limited to those under the law but is extended to all who share Abraham’s faith. This reading reminds us that our relationship with God is built on trust and faith, not on our own efforts or achievements. In the Gospel, Matthew presents Joseph as a model of trust and obedience. When Joseph learns that Mary is pregnant through the Holy Spirit, he is initially confused and hesitant. However, when an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream, explaining that the child is the fulfillment of God’s plan, Joseph trustingly obeys. He takes Mary as his wife and becomes a faithful guardian of Jesus. Joseph’s story teaches us that trust in God’s plan, even in uncertain and challenging circumstances, leads to participation in God’s work of salvation. These readings call us to reflect on our own trust in God’s promises. Like David, we may have plans and aspirations, but we must learn to surrender them to God’s will. Like Abraham, we are invited to trust in God’s promises even when they seem impossible. And like Joseph, we are called to obey God’s will, even when it requires us to step out of our comfort zones. Trusting in God’s plan allows us to participate in His work of salvation, not just for ourselves, but for the world. May we, like these biblical figures, grow in faith and trust, knowing that God’s promises are always fulfilled in His time and in His way.