Daily Readings - Tue Dec 21 2021
First Reading - Zephaniah 3.14-18a or Song of Solomon 2.8-14
Zephaniah
14Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!15The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.16On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.17The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."18"The sorrows for the appointed feasts I will remove from you; they are a burden and a reproach to you.
Song of Solomon
8Listen! My lover! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills.9My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.10My lover spoke and said to me, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me.11See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.12Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.13The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me."14My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
Luke
39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,40where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth.41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.42In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.45Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound messages of joy and trust in God's presence. The first reading from Zephaniah invites us to rejoice, for God has removed judgment and is our strength, dwelling among us. This prophetic text speaks to a restored Israel, offering hope and assurance of God's abiding presence. The Gospel from Luke narrates the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, where the unborn John the Baptist leaps in recognition of Jesus's presence in Mary's womb. Elizabeth's praise and recognition of Mary's blessedness highlight the significance of faith and the joy that comes from encountering God.
Both readings connect through themes of joy and God's presence. Zephaniah's vision of a joyful community reflects God's intimate dwelling among His people, while Luke's narrative shows Mary as the bearer of God, bringing joy to those around her. This connection underscores that God's presence is not distant but deeply personal, inviting us to trust and rejoice.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to recognize God's presence and find joy in it. Like Mary, we are called to trust in God's plan, even when it seems uncertain. The visitation story reminds us that faith leads to encounters with God, bringing joy and transformation. Let us embrace this trust and seek God's presence in our lives, allowing His joy to inspire our actions and decisions.