Daily Readings - Mon Dec 20 2021
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound mystery of God’s presence in our lives and the call to faith and trust in His plan. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear the prophet’s words to King Ahaz, offering a sign of God’s fidelity—a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, Immanuel, “God is with us.” This prophecy, spoken in a time of uncertainty and fear, reminds us that even in the darkest moments, God’s promise of presence and salvation endures. The Gospel then brings us to the moment when this prophecy is fulfilled. The Angel Gabriel appears to Mary, announcing that she will bear a son, Jesus, who will reign forever. Mary’s response, though marked by wonder and questioning, is one of complete surrender: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.”
These readings are deeply connected, as they both point to the same divine plan of salvation. Isaiah’s prophecy and the Annunciation in Luke’s Gospel reveal God’s desire to be with His people in the most intimate way—through the gift of His Son. Mary’s “yes” to God’s will is the model of faith for us all. She does not let fear or uncertainty hold her back; instead, she trusts in God’s promise, even when the circumstances seem impossible. Her response reminds us that faith is not about having all the answers but about surrendering to God’s plan with openness and humility.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we respond to God’s invitations in our own lives? Do we, like Mary, say “yes” even when the path ahead is unclear? Or do we, like Ahaz, hesitate to trust in God’s providence? The readings encourage us to embrace faith as a way of life, to trust in God’s presence, and to surrender to His will. Just as Mary became the bearer of God’s Son, we too are called to bear witness to God’s love and truth in our world. Let us strive to live with the same courage and humility as Mary, allowing God to work through us in ways we cannot yet imagine.