Daily Readings - Thu Mar 25 2021
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.
Hebrews
4For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.5Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;6in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.7Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'"8When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law),9then he added, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second.10And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
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 are invited to reflect on the themes of trust, obedience, and the fulfillment of God’s plan. The first reading from Isaiah recounts the moment when King Ahaz is offered a sign by God, yet he hesitates, leading to the profound prophecy of a virgin bearing a son named Immanuel. This passage underscores the importance of trusting in God’s providence, even when circumstances seem uncertain. The second reading from Hebrews highlights the insufficiency of animal sacrifices to atone for sins, emphasizing that true redemption comes through Christ’s obedience to God’s will. This passage reminds us that our acts of faith and surrender are more pleasing to God than any external rituals. In the Gospel, Luke presents the Annunciation, where Mary, with humility and faith, accepts God’s plan, embodying the perfect response to divine will.
These readings are intricately connected, as they all point to the fulfillment of God’s plan through trust and obedience. Isaiah’s prophecy finds its fulfillment in Mary’s “yes,” which opens the way for Christ’s incarnation. The Hebrews reading explains the deeper significance of Christ’s sacrifice, which is the ultimate act of obedience to God’s will. Together, they teach us that trust in God’s plan, even when it seems impossible, leads to the realization of His divine will.
In our daily lives, we are often faced with challenges that require us to trust in God’s plan. Like Mary, we are called to say “yes” to God’s will, even when it seems difficult or uncertain. This trust is not passive but active, requiring us to align our will with God’s. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Where in my life am I being called to trust in God’s plan? How can I, like Mary, surrender to His will and allow His grace to work through me? May we, through our faith and obedience, become instruments of God’s grace in the world.