Daily Readings - Sat Dec 08 2018
Genesis
9And the Lord God called Adam and said to him: "Where are you?10And he said, "I heard your voice in Paradise, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and so I hid myself.11He said to him, "Then who told you that you were naked, if you have not eaten of the tree from which I instructed you that you should not eat?12And Adam said, "The woman, whom you gave to me as a companion, gave to me from the tree, and I ate.13And the Lord God said to the woman, "Why have you done this?" And she responded, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate.14And the Lord God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, you are cursed among all living things, even the wild beasts of the earth. Upon your breast shall you travel, and the ground shall you eat, all the days of your life15I will put enmities between you and the woman, between your offspring and her offspring. She will crush your head, and you will lie in wait for her heel.20And Adam called the name of his wife, ‘Eve,’ because she was the mother of all the living
Ephesians
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, in Christ4just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy and immaculate in his sight, in charity5He has predestined us to adoption as sons, through Jesus Christ, in himself, according to the purpose of his will6for the praise of the glory of his grace, with which he has gifted us in his beloved Son11In him, we too are called to our portion, having been predestined in accord with the plan of the One who accomplishes all things by the counsel of his will12So may we be, to the praise of his glory, we who have hoped beforehand in Christ
Luke
26Then, in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent by God, to a city of Galilee named Nazareth27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary28And upon entering, the Angel said to her: "Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.29And when she had heard this, she was disturbed by his words, and she considered what kind of greeting this might be30And the Angel said to her: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God31Behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall bear a son, and you shall call his name: JESUS32He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. And he will reign in the house of Jacob for eternity33And his kingdom shall have no end.34Then Mary said to the Angel, "How shall this be done, since I do not know man?35And in response, the Angel said to her: "The Holy Spirit will pass over you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. And because of this also, the Holy One who will be born of you shall be called the Son of God36And behold, your cousin Elizabeth has herself also conceived a son, in her old age. And this is the sixth month for her who is called barren37For no word will be impossible with God.38Then Mary said: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word." And the Angel departed from her
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter three distinct yet interconnected moments in the story of salvation. The first reading from Genesis recounts the aftermath of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden. Their sin leads to separation from God, yet even in judgment, there is a glimmer of hope—the promise of redemption through the offspring of the woman who will crush the serpent’s head. This passage sets the stage for humanity’s struggle with sin and our need for divine intervention.
The second reading from Ephesians shifts our focus to the blessings of being chosen by God in Christ before the foundation of the world. St. Paul emphasizes that we are predestined for adoption as God’s children, a truth that underscores the depth of God’s love and the eternal plan of salvation. This reading invites us to reflect on our identity as beloved children of God, called to live in a way that reflects the glory of His grace.
The Gospel from Luke presents the Annunciation, where Mary, in her humility and faith, accepts God’s will for her life. Her response, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word,” models the obedience and trust we are all called to emulate. Mary’s “yes” to God’s plan becomes the turning point in history, reversing the disobedience of Adam and Eve and opening the way for the Incarnation.
These readings remind us that our lives are part of a larger story—God’s story of creation, sin, and redemption. Like Adam and Eve, we face choices that have consequences, but like Mary, we are invited to trust in God’s plan and say “yes” to His will. In our daily lives, we are called to live as children of God, mindful of His grace and the hope of redemption. Let us, like Mary, surrender to God’s plan with faith and humility, knowing that His ways are higher than our own.