Daily Readings - Wed Mar 25 2020
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.
Hebrews
4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.7Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.8Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
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 faith and divine intervention that guide us toward a deeper understanding of God’s plan. The first reading from Isaiah presents a pivotal moment when King Ahaz is offered a sign by God, symbolized by a virgin bearing a son named Immanuel, signifying God’s presence with His people. This prophecy, made in a time of crisis for Judah, offers hope and assurance of divine deliverance. The second reading from Hebrews contrasts the ineffectiveness of animal sacrifices with the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who willingly offers His body to fulfill God’s will, emphasizing the superiority of His sacrifice over the old covenant rituals. The Gospel of Luke recounts the Annunciation, where Mary, in her humility and obedience, accepts the miraculous task of bearing Jesus, trusting in God’s plan despite the seeming impossibility.
These readings are intricately connected, as Isaiah’s prophecy finds its fulfillment in the birth of Jesus, and Hebrews provides the theological depth to understand the significance of Christ’s mission. The thread of obedience and trust weaves through all three readings: Ahaz’s reluctance, Mary’s willingness, and Christ’s surrender. This highlights the importance of trusting in God’s plan, even when circumstances seem uncertain or challenging.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own trust and obedience to God. Like Mary, we are called to embrace God’s will with faith, even when the path is unclear. The moral lesson here is the transformative power of faith and obedience. Just as Mary’s “Yes” brought salvation into the world, our willingness to follow God’s will can lead to profound grace and redemption in our lives and the lives of others. Let us strive to emulate Mary’s example, trusting in God’s providence and surrendering to His plan with open hearts.