Daily Readings - Wed Mar 25 2020
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
Hebrews
4For it is impossible for sins to be taken away by the blood of oxen and goats5For this reason, as Christ enters into the world, he says: "Sacrifice and oblation, you did not want. But you have fashioned a body for me6Holocausts for sin were not pleasing to you7Then I said, ‘Behold, I draw near.’ At the head of the book, it has been written of me that I should do your will, O God.8In the above, by saying, "Sacrifices, and oblations, and holocausts for sin, you did not want, nor are those things pleasing to you, which are offered according to the law9then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,’ " he takes away the first, so that he may establish what follows10For by this will, we have been sanctified, through the one time oblation of the body of Jesus 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 profound moments of faith and divine intervention that guide us toward a deeper understanding of God’s plan. The first reading from Isaiah presents a pivotal moment when King Ahaz is offered a sign by God, symbolized by a virgin bearing a son named Immanuel, signifying God’s presence with His people. This prophecy, made in a time of crisis for Judah, offers hope and assurance of divine deliverance. The second reading from Hebrews contrasts the ineffectiveness of animal sacrifices with the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who willingly offers His body to fulfill God’s will, emphasizing the superiority of His sacrifice over the old covenant rituals. The Gospel of Luke recounts the Annunciation, where Mary, in her humility and obedience, accepts the miraculous task of bearing Jesus, trusting in God’s plan despite the seeming impossibility.
These readings are intricately connected, as Isaiah’s prophecy finds its fulfillment in the birth of Jesus, and Hebrews provides the theological depth to understand the significance of Christ’s mission. The thread of obedience and trust weaves through all three readings: Ahaz’s reluctance, Mary’s willingness, and Christ’s surrender. This highlights the importance of trusting in God’s plan, even when circumstances seem uncertain or challenging.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own trust and obedience to God. Like Mary, we are called to embrace God’s will with faith, even when the path is unclear. The moral lesson here is the transformative power of faith and obedience. Just as Mary’s “Yes” brought salvation into the world, our willingness to follow God’s will can lead to profound grace and redemption in our lives and the lives of others. Let us strive to emulate Mary’s example, trusting in God’s providence and surrendering to His plan with open hearts.