Daily Readings - Tue Mar 19 2024

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

Chapter 4

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

Chapter 1

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

Chapter 2

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

In today's readings, we journey through the tapestry of God's promises and the faith that sustains them. The first reading from 2 Samuel reveals Nathan's prophecy to David, where God establishes a lasting dynasty through his offspring, ultimately pointing to the coming of Jesus. This promise is not just about a physical kingdom but a spiritual one, rooted in God's eternal plan. The second reading from Romans shifts our focus to Abraham, whose faith in God's promise laid the foundation for a family that transcends the law. Paul emphasizes that faith is the cornerstone, making us all children of Abraham. This faith is not passive but active, trusting in God's power to bring life from nothingness, just as He did for Abraham. In the Gospel, Matthew presents Joseph, a man of righteousness and obedience, who embodies this faith. Despite the uncertainty of Mary's pregnancy, Joseph trusts the divine message, fulfilling God's plan for Jesus' birth. This narrative underscores the importance of trusting God's promises, even in life's unexpected challenges. These readings invite us to reflect on our own faith. Like Abraham and Joseph, we are called to trust in God's plan, even when the path is unclear. Their examples teach us that faith is not about understanding every detail but about obeying and trusting in God's providence. As we navigate life's uncertainties, may we hold fast to the promise that God's plan is always for our good and the salvation of others. Let us embrace this faith, allowing it to guide our actions and decisions, just as it did for Abraham and Joseph, trusting that God's promises will unfold in His perfect time.