Daily Readings - Mon Dec 20 2021
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 mystery of God’s presence in our lives and the call to faith and trust in His plan. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear the prophet’s words to King Ahaz, offering a sign of God’s fidelity—a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, Immanuel, “God is with us.” This prophecy, spoken in a time of uncertainty and fear, reminds us that even in the darkest moments, God’s promise of presence and salvation endures. The Gospel then brings us to the moment when this prophecy is fulfilled. The Angel Gabriel appears to Mary, announcing that she will bear a son, Jesus, who will reign forever. Mary’s response, though marked by wonder and questioning, is one of complete surrender: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.”
These readings are deeply connected, as they both point to the same divine plan of salvation. Isaiah’s prophecy and the Annunciation in Luke’s Gospel reveal God’s desire to be with His people in the most intimate way—through the gift of His Son. Mary’s “yes” to God’s will is the model of faith for us all. She does not let fear or uncertainty hold her back; instead, she trusts in God’s promise, even when the circumstances seem impossible. Her response reminds us that faith is not about having all the answers but about surrendering to God’s plan with openness and humility.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we respond to God’s invitations in our own lives? Do we, like Mary, say “yes” even when the path ahead is unclear? Or do we, like Ahaz, hesitate to trust in God’s providence? The readings encourage us to embrace faith as a way of life, to trust in God’s presence, and to surrender to His will. Just as Mary became the bearer of God’s Son, we too are called to bear witness to God’s love and truth in our world. Let us strive to live with the same courage and humility as Mary, allowing God to work through us in ways we cannot yet imagine.