Daily Readings - Fri Dec 20 2019
Isaiah
10And the Lord spoke further to Ahaz, saying11Ask for a sign for yourself from the Lord your God, from the depths below, even to the heights above12And Ahaz said, "I will not ask, for I will not tempt the Lord.13And he said: "Then listen, O house of David. Is it such a small thing for you to trouble men, that you must also trouble my God14For this reason, the Lord himself will grant to you a sign. Behold, a virgin will conceive, and she will give birth to a son, and his name will be called Immanuel
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound themes of trust and God's providence. In the first reading from Isaiah, we encounter a moment of divine promise amidst crisis. Ahaz, the King of Judah, is offered a sign by God, but he declines, fearing to tempt the Lord. Despite this refusal, God provides a sign anyway: a virgin shall conceive and bear a son named Immanuel, meaning "God is with us." This prophecy, spoken in a time of uncertainty, offers hope and assurance of God's enduring presence.
In the Gospel, we witness the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy through the Annunciation. The Angel Gabriel visits Mary, greeting her as one favored by God. Mary, though perplexed, accepts the divine plan with humility and faith, responding, "Let it be done to me according to your word." Her yes to God's will marks the beginning of a new era, as Jesus, the Son of the Most High, is born to reign forever.
These readings call us to trust in God's plan, even when circumstances seem uncertain. Like Mary, we are invited to surrender to God's will, trusting in His providence. In our daily lives, this faith enables us to face challenges with courage and hope, knowing that God is always with us. The moral lesson here is the power of faith and surrender, reminding us to embrace God's plan with openness and trust, just as Mary did.