Call and Response (readings for Dec. 21, 2018)

Today’s readings wonderfully describe interaction with God: His initiatives toward us and our response.  Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you, prayerfully dig into them, and see what He shows you. Compare that to the thoughts set out in blue below, communicated according to the key also set out below. 

What the Holy Spirit shows you may likely be different, and may be intended for folks in addition to you, so don’t be afraid to comment if that seems like where He’s leading you. See Malachi 3:16-17. 

Key:

What these verses tell us about God

What these verses tell us to do

What these verses tell us to avoid

Citations to other scripture are hyperlinks to muliple transaltions of those scriptures.

Reading 1 SG 2:8-14

Hark! my lover–here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills. My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Here he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattices. My lover speaks; he says to me, "Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one, and come! "For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the dove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance. Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come!

"O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff, Let me see you, let me hear your voice, For your voice is sweet, and you are lovely." 

Assuming that the lover is a metaphor for God, He actively, energetically, comes to us and calls us to join Him. We should listen for His call and join Him.

Or ZEP 3:14-18A

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love,He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals. 

God is with us. We should be greatly comforted and encouraged by that reality—and it is reality.

Responsorial Psalm PS 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21

R. (1a; 3a) Exult, you just, in the Lord!Sing to him a new song.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.Sing to him a new song; pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.
R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever; the design of his heart, through all generations.Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and our shield, for in him our hearts rejoice;in his holy name we trust.
R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

Another exhortation to actively respond to, embrace, God’s goodness and faithfulness. This sounds a lot like what is described in Philippians 4:4-7.  

I am particularly struck by the direction to “pluck the strings skillfully.” God gives each of us some particular skill. We—and others—receive joy when we intentionally and diligently exercise it to the best of our ability for God’s purposes. Those purposes can seem secular, but are in fact divine if we do them to fulfill the role/duties God has assigned us.  That distracts us from worry and creates good things for us and others. That dynamic seems to underlie Colossians 3:23-24.  

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God! 

 R. Alleluia, alleluia.

We are to ask God for His help when we are troubled, in difficulty. See  Philippians 4:4-7, James 1:5.

Gospel LK 1:39-45

Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in hasteto a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.  Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." 

Powerfully good things happen when we actively embrace what God/the Holy spirit tells/assigns us, things that will reinforce our faith and bless others. This seems like an example of the dynamic described in James 1:25