Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 18, 2023
First Reading: Jeremiah 23.5-8
5"The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.6In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.7"So then, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when people will no longer say, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,'8but they will say, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.' Then they will live in their own land."
Psalm 72
1Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.2He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.3The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.4He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor.5He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.6He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.7In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.8He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.9The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust.10The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts.11All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him.12For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.13He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.14He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.15Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.16Let grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon; let it thrive like the grass of the field.17May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.18Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.19Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.20This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.
Gospel: Matthew 1.18-24
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."22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound messages of hope and trust. The first reading from Jeremiah speaks of a future leader from David's lineage, a righteous branch who will bring justice and restore Israel. This prophecy offers hope to a people in exile, promising a time when God's justice will prevail. The Gospel from Matthew tells the story of Joseph, who, despite initial uncertainty, trusts God's plan when an angel assures him that Mary's child is divine. This narrative highlights the importance of faith and obedience, even in unexpected circumstances.
These readings are intricately connected, as Jeremiah's prophecy finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The righteous branch foretold by Jeremiah is realized in Jesus, who embodies justice and salvation. Matthew's account of Joseph illustrates the human response to divine plans, showing how trust in God's promises can lead to courageous actions. Together, they remind us that our faith is rooted in a long history of God's promises and their fulfillment.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own trust in God. Like Joseph, we may face situations that challenge our understanding, but it is in these moments that we are called to trust in God's plan. Recognizing Jesus as Emmanuel, "God with us," we find comfort in His presence. The moral lesson here is clear: faith and trust in God's promises guide us through uncertainty, leading us to act with courage and hope.