Daily Readings - Fri Mar 19 2021
2 Samuel
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
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
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
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 mystery of God’s promises and the faith required to trust in His plan. In the first reading from 2 Samuel, Nathan speaks to King David about the divine promise to establish his dynasty forever. This promise points not only to the earthly kingdom of David but ultimately to the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Son of David. The reading reminds us that God’s plans often unfold in ways we cannot fully understand, and His timing is not our own.
In the second reading from Romans, St. Paul reflects on the faith of Abraham, who trusted God’s promise to make him the father of many nations even when humanly speaking, it seemed impossible. Paul emphasizes that Abraham’s faith was reckoned as righteousness, and this faith is the foundation of our relationship with God. The reading reminds us that God’s promises are not limited by human logic or circumstances; they are rooted in His faithfulness and grace.
The Gospel from Matthew brings us to the quiet, humble moment when Joseph, the husband of Mary, receives a message from an angel in a dream. Faced with a situation that could have led to fear or doubt, Joseph chooses to trust God’s plan. His obedience and faith in the divine message demonstrate the kind of trust we are called to have in our own lives. Just as Joseph accepted Mary as his wife and embraced his role in God’s plan, we are invited to surrender to God’s will, even when it challenges us to go beyond our own understanding.
These readings remind us that faith is not about having all the answers but about trusting in God’s promises. Like Abraham, we are called to hope against hope, believing that God can bring life out of nothingness. Like Joseph, we are called to obey even when the path is unclear. And like David, we are reminded that God’s plans are bigger than our own, and His kingdom endures forever. May we, like these figures, allow our faith to guide us, trusting that God’s promises will unfold in His time and in His way.