Daily Readings - Thu Dec 20 2018
Isaiah
10Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying,11Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.13And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?14Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Luke
26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.37For with God nothing shall be impossible.38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound moments of divine announcement, each inviting us to reflect on trust and faith. The Prophet Isaiah shares a message of hope to King Ahaz, offering a sign of God's presence—a virgin bearing a son, Immanuel. This prophecy, set against the backdrop of Judah's peril, underscores God's enduring presence amidst uncertainty. Centuries later, the Gospel of Luke presents the Annunciation, where Mary, with humility and faith, accepts the miraculous conception of Jesus. Both narratives highlight divine intervention and the call to trust in God's plan.
The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on trust and the fulfillment of prophecy. Isaiah's sign finds its fulfillment in Luke, as Mary's "Yes" to God's will embodies the faith that Ahaz was reluctant to embrace. Mary's response, despite confusion, exemplifies unwavering trust, teaching us to embrace God's will with openness and courage.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own trust in God. Like Mary, we are called to face challenges with faith, trusting that God's plan, though mysterious, is always for our good. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's providence, even when the path seems uncertain. Let us draw inspiration from Mary's example, allowing her faith to guide us in our own journeys of trust and discipleship.