Daily Readings - Wed Dec 20 2023
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 faith, trust, and God's divine plan. In the first reading from Isaiah, we encounter a moment of crisis for King Ahaz of Judah, as the kingdom faces threat from its neighbors. Isaiah offers Ahaz a sign from God—a virgin shall conceive and bear a son named Immanuel, a testament to God's presence and deliverance. Ahaz's hesitation underscores the human struggle to trust in God's providence, yet the prophecy stands as a beacon of hope, reminding us that God is always with us, even in uncertain times.
In the Gospel, Luke presents the Annunciation, where the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear a son, Jesus, who will be the Son of the Most High. Mary's response, though initially perplexed, is one of profound faith and surrender: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word." This moment is not just a personal encounter but a pivotal event in salvation history, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah. Mary's "yes" becomes a model for us all, teaching us to trust in God's plan, even when it seems impossible or beyond our understanding.
These readings call us to reflect on our own trust in God. Like Ahaz, we may face moments of doubt or fear, but the promise of Immanuel—God with us—remains steadfast. Like Mary, we are invited to surrender our will to God's, embracing His plan with faith and courage. In our daily lives, this means trusting in God's presence, even when the path ahead is unclear, and saying "yes" to His will, just as Mary did. May we, like Mary, become vessels of God's grace, allowing His divine plan to unfold in our lives and in the world around us.