Daily Readings for December 22, 2015

1ST READING

Hannah is one of the women who miraculously gave birth and defied medical understanding. If God wants to do something, then He will do it. Nothing is outside the reach of His power. Hannah generously offers her son, Samuel, to the Lord for service in the Temple, as the Law calls for all first-born sons. It will be the same with Jesus when He is born. Serving God should always be seen as an honor and a privilege.

1 Samuel 1:24-28

24 In those days, Hannah brought Samuel with her, along with a three year- old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented him at the temple of the Lord in Shiloh. 25 After the boy’s father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli 26 and said: “Pardon, my lord! As you live my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the Lord. 27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request. 28 Now I, in turn, give him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.” She left Samuel there.

P S A L M

1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8

R: My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

1 “My heart exults in the Lord, my horn is exalted in my God. I have swallowed up my enemies; I rejoice in my victory.” (R) 4 “The bows of the mighty are broken, while the tottering gird on strength. 5 The well fed hire themselves out for bread, while the hungry batten on spoil. The barren wife bears seven sons, while the mother of many languishes.” (R) 6 “The Lord puts to death and gives life; he casts down to the nether world; he raises up again. 7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich, he humbles, he also exalts.” (R) 8 “He raises the needy from the dust; from the dung heap he lifts up the poor, to seat them with nobles and make a glorious throne their heritage.” (R)

GOSPEL

A clear focus is essential in the spiritual life. If we are not clear who it is we serve, namely God, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit, then we will easily lose our ways in the midst of a world full of distractions and illicit pleasures. Mary knows that God’s plan for her life is the most important thing for her and it is this that she will focus on for the rest of her life — she is with Jesus at many of the important events of His life, including His death. She is also there as His mission continues beyond His Resurrection and Ascension (Pentecost). Mary is a disciple of Jesus above all other things. Can we say the same about ourselves?

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

O King of all nations and keystone of the Church; come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!

Luke 1:46-56

46 Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; 47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior. 48 For he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: 49 the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. 50 He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. 51 He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. 52 He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has come to help of his servant Israel, for he remembered his promise of mercy, 55 the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and to his children for ever.” 56 Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

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