Daily Readings - Fri Mar 25 2022
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust in God's plan and the fulfillment of divine promises. In Isaiah, we see Ahaz refusing a sign, yet God still provides the sign of Immanuel, a promise of hope amidst uncertainty. This passage, set during the Assyrian crisis, emphasizes God's faithfulness despite human doubt. In Hebrews, we learn that Christ's sacrifice transcends the old order, fulfilling God's will and providing true sanctification. This theological explanation underscores Christ's role as the perfect sacrifice. In Luke, the Annunciation shows Mary's trust and openness to God's will, a pivotal moment in salvation history.
These readings interrelate by progressively revealing God's plan. Isaiah's Immanuel points to a future savior, which Hebrews explains as Christ fulfilling God's will through his sacrifice. Luke actualizes this with Mary's acceptance, showing the fulfillment in Jesus' birth.
In our daily lives, we are called to trust God's plan, even when unclear. Like Mary, we can accept God's will, trusting His word and being open to His plan. Mary's example teaches us to humbly submit, trusting that God's word will fulfill His purpose. Let us embrace trust in God's plan, following Mary's example in openness and faith, reflecting on how His word brings life and hope.