Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 20, 2017
First Reading: Isaiah 7.10-14; 8.10d
10Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz,11"Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven."12But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test."13And he said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Psalm 24
1The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,2for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.3Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.5He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.6Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah7Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.8Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!9Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.10Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah
Gospel: Luke 1.26-38
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.28And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.30And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."34And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"35And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God.36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.37For nothing will be impossible with God."38And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Sermon
The readings today take us to the heart of God’s plan of salvation, weaving together prophecy and fulfillment, faith and trust. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear the prophet offering King Ahaz a sign from God—a promise that a virgin will bear a son named Immanuel, “God with us.” This passage, spoken in a time of crisis and uncertainty for the people of Judah, is a testament to God’s enduring presence and fidelity. It is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, God does not abandon His people but instead offers them hope and assurance.
In the Gospel, we fast-forward to the moment when this prophecy is fulfilled. The Angel Gabriel appears to Mary, a young virgin from Nazareth, announcing 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”—is a model of faith and surrender. Her “yes” to God’s plan is not born of understanding or control but of trust in His goodness and providence. This moment is the hinge of history, where the promises of the Old Testament meet the reality of the Incarnation.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God. Like Mary, we are called to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems impossible or beyond our comprehension. In a world often marked by doubt and fear, we are reminded that God is with us, just as He was with Mary and the people of Judah. The moral lesson here is clear: faith is not about having all the answers but about surrendering to God’s will with humility and courage. As we prepare for the coming of Christ this Advent season, let us imitate Mary’s openness and trust, allowing God to work in our lives in ways we cannot yet see or understand.