Daily Readings - Mon Dec 09 2024
Genesis
9And the Lord God called Adam and said to him: "Where are you?10And he said, "I heard your voice in Paradise, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and so I hid myself.11He said to him, "Then who told you that you were naked, if you have not eaten of the tree from which I instructed you that you should not eat?12And Adam said, "The woman, whom you gave to me as a companion, gave to me from the tree, and I ate.13And the Lord God said to the woman, "Why have you done this?" And she responded, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate.14And the Lord God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, you are cursed among all living things, even the wild beasts of the earth. Upon your breast shall you travel, and the ground shall you eat, all the days of your life15I will put enmities between you and the woman, between your offspring and her offspring. She will crush your head, and you will lie in wait for her heel.20And Adam called the name of his wife, ‘Eve,’ because she was the mother of all the living
Ephesians
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, in Christ4just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy and immaculate in his sight, in charity5He has predestined us to adoption as sons, through Jesus Christ, in himself, according to the purpose of his will6for the praise of the glory of his grace, with which he has gifted us in his beloved Son11In him, we too are called to our portion, having been predestined in accord with the plan of the One who accomplishes all things by the counsel of his will12So may we be, to the praise of his glory, we who have hoped beforehand in 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 journey through the narrative of humanity’s fall and redemption, culminating in the pivotal moment of the Annunciation. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Adam and Eve, where their disobedience introduces sin into the world. This act of rebellion against God’s command leads to separation and the introduction of enmity between humanity and the serpent. Yet, amidst this narrative of sin, there is a glimmer of hope: Eve is named the mother of all the living, hinting at the eventual redemption that will come through her offspring.
The second reading from Ephesians shifts our focus to the divine plan of redemption. Paul writes that before the foundation of the world, God chose us to be holy and blameless, predestining us for adoption as His children through Jesus Christ. This reading emphasizes God’s eternal plan of salvation, highlighting that we are part of a larger narrative of grace and redemption. It reminds us that our lives are not random or without purpose but are part of God’s grand design to bring all things under the rule of Christ.
The Gospel reading from Luke brings us to the moment when this divine plan is set in motion. The Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear a son, Jesus, who will be the Son of the Most High and reign forever. Mary’s response, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word,” stands in stark contrast to Eve’s disobedience. While Eve’s “no” to God’s will led to separation, Mary’s “yes” opens the way to union with God. Her obedience undoes the disobedience of Eve, and through her, God’s plan of redemption is fulfilled.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own response to God’s will. Like Mary, we are called to surrender to God’s plan, even when it seems impossible or unclear. The serpent’s deception in Genesis and the spiritual blessings in Ephesians remind us that we are part of a spiritual battle, but we are not alone. God’s grace is always at work, and His plan is always unfolding. Let us, like Mary, embrace our role in this divine plan with faith and obedience, trusting that no word of God is impossible.