Daily Readings - Thu Dec 20 2018
Isaiah
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.
Luke
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
In today's readings, we encounter profound moments of divine announcement, each inviting us to reflect on trust and faith. The Prophet Isaiah shares a message of hope to King Ahaz, offering a sign of God's presence—a virgin bearing a son, Immanuel. This prophecy, set against the backdrop of Judah's peril, underscores God's enduring presence amidst uncertainty. Centuries later, the Gospel of Luke presents the Annunciation, where Mary, with humility and faith, accepts the miraculous conception of Jesus. Both narratives highlight divine intervention and the call to trust in God's plan.
The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on trust and the fulfillment of prophecy. Isaiah's sign finds its fulfillment in Luke, as Mary's "Yes" to God's will embodies the faith that Ahaz was reluctant to embrace. Mary's response, despite confusion, exemplifies unwavering trust, teaching us to embrace God's will with openness and courage.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own trust in God. Like Mary, we are called to face challenges with faith, trusting that God's plan, though mysterious, is always for our good. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's providence, even when the path seems uncertain. Let us draw inspiration from Mary's example, allowing her faith to guide us in our own journeys of trust and discipleship.