Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 20, 2022
First Reading: Isaiah 7.10-14; 8.10d
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
Psalm 24
1For the First Sabbath. A Psalm of David. The earth and all its fullness belong to the Lord: the whole world and all that dwells in it2For he has founded it upon the seas, and he has prepared it upon the rivers3Who will ascend to the mountain of the Lord? And who will stand in his holy place4The innocent of hands and the clean of heart, who has not received his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbor5He will receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God, his Saviour6This is the generation that seeks him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob7Lift up your gates, you princes, and be lifted up, eternal gates. And the King of Glory shall enter8Who is this King of Glory? The Lord who is strong and powerful; the Lord powerful in battle9Lift up your gates, you princes, and be lifted up, eternal gates. And the King of Glory shall enter10Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of virtue. He himself is the King of Glory
Gospel: Luke 1.26-38
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 two profound moments of divine communication, each inviting us to reflect on faith and trust in God’s plan. The first reading from Isaiah presents King Ahaz, who, when offered a sign by God, refuses, perhaps out of pride or fear. Despite this, Isaiah assures the people of Judah that God will provide a sign: a virgin shall conceive and bear a son named Immanuel, a prophecy pointing to the coming Messiah. This sets the stage for the Gospel, where Luke recounts the Annunciation. The Angel Gabriel appears to Mary, announcing she will bear Jesus, the Son of God. Mary, though perplexed, responds with faith and obedience, embracing God’s will.
These readings are deeply connected, as Isaiah’s prophecy finds its fulfillment in Mary’s “Yes.” While Ahaz hesitates, Mary’s faith shines, illustrating the transformative power of trust in God. Both stories highlight the importance of openness to divine plans, even when they seem impossible. Mary’s acceptance of the unknown exemplifies the faith we are called to emulate.
In our daily lives, we often face challenges that test our faith. Like Mary, we are invited to trust in God’s providence, even when circumstances seem daunting. The moral lesson here is clear: faith is not about understanding everything but about surrendering to God’s will. As we navigate life’s uncertainties, let us draw inspiration from Mary’s example, embracing God’s plan with courage and trust, knowing that no word of God is impossible.