Daily Readings - Wed Dec 08 2021
Genesis
9But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?"10And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself."11He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"12The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."13Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."14The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.15I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."20The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
Ephesians
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love5he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
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 journey through the narrative of humanity’s fall, the promise of redemption, and the fulfillment of that promise in Jesus Christ. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Adam and Eve, where their disobedience leads to separation from God, yet we also hear the first promise of salvation through Eve’s offspring. The second reading from Ephesians reveals that we are chosen by God, predestined for adoption, and blessed with every spiritual gift in Christ. The Gospel from Luke presents the Annunciation, where Mary, with faith and obedience, accepts her role in God’s plan, leading to the incarnation of Jesus.
These readings are deeply connected. The fall in Genesis sets the stage for humanity’s need for redemption, which Ephesians and Luke fulfill through Christ. Ephesians explains our spiritual identity as God’s chosen people, while Luke shows the moment this redemption begins. Mary’s “Yes” to God’s plan exemplifies trust and obedience, contrasting with Adam and Eve’s disobedience. This highlights the shift from sin to salvation, emphasizing our role in God’s plan.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to trust in God’s plan, even amidst challenges. Like Mary, we are called to say “Yes” to God, embracing our part in His story. Recognizing our identity as His chosen people, we live with hope and purpose. The moral lesson is clear: trust in God’s providence, live with hope, and accept His will, reflecting Mary’s faith and obedience.