Daily Readings - Sun Dec 29 2019
Colossians
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Matthew
13When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,15where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt20and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."21So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,23and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."
Sermon
The readings today guide us through themes of respect, community, and trust in God. The first reading from Sirach emphasizes the importance of honoring our parents, not just as a moral duty, but as a way to honor God. It reminds us that our actions towards our parents reflect our relationship with Him and lead to personal happiness. The second reading from Colossians expands this idea to the broader Christian community, urging us to embrace virtues like mercy, kindness, and patience. It highlights forgiveness and charity as essential bonds within our community, encouraging us to let Christ's peace guide our hearts and actions.
The Gospel from Matthew illustrates these virtues through Joseph's obedience and trust in God. Joseph's actions, guided by divine messages, show us how to trust God's plan, even in uncertain times. His journey to Egypt and back to Nazareth exemplifies fulfillment of prophecy and divine guidance. This story teaches us to trust God's plan, just as Joseph did, and to live out our faith in our daily lives.
In applying these lessons, we are reminded to respect and care for our families, forgive one another, and trust in God's providence. Just as Joseph trusted God, we too can navigate life's challenges with faith. Let us strive to live with the virtues mentioned, fostering a community of love and peace, and trusting in God's plan for our lives.