Daily Readings - Tue Dec 24 2019
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s plan of salvation and the fulfillment of His promises. In the first reading from 2 Samuel, we hear of King David’s desire to build a house for God, but God responds by reversing the offer: He will build a house for David instead. This passage marks a pivotal moment in Israel’s history, as God establishes the Davidic covenant, promising that David’s dynasty will endure forever. This covenant is not just about a physical house but about the enduring kingdom of God, which will find its ultimate fulfillment in Christ.
In the Gospel, Zechariah’s canticle, known as the Benedictus, is a beautiful expression of praise and prophecy. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Zechariah rejoices in the fulfillment of God’s promises, particularly through the house of David. He speaks of the horn of salvation, a messianic figure who will bring light to those in darkness and guide our feet in the way of peace. This canticle connects the Old Testament promise of a Davidic kingdom with the New Testament reality of Jesus Christ, who is the true King and Savior.
These readings remind us that God’s plan is always bigger than our own. While David wanted to build a house for God, God had a greater plan to build a house for David—one that would culminate in the coming of Jesus. Similarly, Zechariah’s prophecy points us to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises in Christ. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to trust in God’s timing and plan, even when our own desires or expectations seem unfulfilled. Let us, like Zechariah, sing with joy, knowing that God’s mercy and justice are at work in our lives, guiding us in the way of peace.