Daily Readings - Wed Dec 20 2023
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound themes of faith, trust, and God's divine plan. In the first reading from Isaiah, we encounter a moment of crisis for King Ahaz of Judah, as the kingdom faces threat from its neighbors. Isaiah offers Ahaz a sign from God—a virgin shall conceive and bear a son named Immanuel, a testament to God's presence and deliverance. Ahaz's hesitation underscores the human struggle to trust in God's providence, yet the prophecy stands as a beacon of hope, reminding us that God is always with us, even in uncertain times.
In the Gospel, Luke presents the Annunciation, where the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear a son, Jesus, who will be the Son of the Most High. Mary's response, though initially perplexed, is one of profound faith and surrender: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word." This moment is not just a personal encounter but a pivotal event in salvation history, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah. Mary's "yes" becomes a model for us all, teaching us to trust in God's plan, even when it seems impossible or beyond our understanding.
These readings call us to reflect on our own trust in God. Like Ahaz, we may face moments of doubt or fear, but the promise of Immanuel—God with us—remains steadfast. Like Mary, we are invited to surrender our will to God's, embracing His plan with faith and courage. In our daily lives, this means trusting in God's presence, even when the path ahead is unclear, and saying "yes" to His will, just as Mary did. May we, like Mary, become vessels of God's grace, allowing His divine plan to unfold in our lives and in the world around us.