Daily Readings - Fri Dec 20 2024
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 faith and trust in God's plan. The first reading from Isaiah presents King Ahaz, who is reluctant to ask for a sign, yet Isaiah assures him that God will provide one—the birth of Immanuel, a sign of hope and divine presence. This prophecy points to the Messiah, emphasizing God's faithfulness even in uncertain times.
The Gospel reading shifts to the Annunciation, where Mary, though initially perplexed, embodies complete trust in God. Her response, "Let it be done to me according to your word," exemplifies surrender and faith. Both readings highlight the theme of trusting God's plan, even when it seems unimaginable.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own trust in God. Like Mary, we are called to embrace God's will with openness and faith, even when faced with challenges. By surrendering to His plan, we, like Mary, become vessels of divine grace, allowing God's love and light to shine through us.