Daily Readings - Tue Mar 25 2025
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 journey through a narrative that begins with prophecy, moves through explanation, and culminates in fulfillment, each step revealing God's profound plan for humanity.
The first reading from Isaiah presents a pivotal moment in history. Ahaz, faced with a threat, is offered a sign by God—a virgin bearing a son named Immanuel, "God is with us." This prophecy, spoken in a time of crisis, assures Ahaz of God's presence and foreshadows the Messiah's arrival. The context of war and political turmoil highlights the need for trust in divine providence. Isaiah's message is one of hope and assurance, reminding us that God's promises are unwavering.
The second reading from Hebrews elucidates the significance of Christ's sacrifice. It explains that animal sacrifices, while part of the old covenant, could not truly atone for sins. Christ's obedience to God's will, offering His body once for all, establishes a new covenant. This reading contextualizes the shift from the old to the new covenant, emphasizing that Christ's sacrifice is the ultimate expression of God's love and will.
In the Gospel, Luke's account of the Annunciation brings us to the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. Mary, with her trusting obedience, becomes the vessel through which God enters the world. Her response, "Let it be done to me according to your word," exemplifies faith and surrender. This moment is the climax of God's plan, where prophecy meets reality, and the divine becomes human.
These readings invite us to reflect on trust and obedience. Like Mary, we are called to embrace God's will, even when uncertain. The readings remind us that our faith is rooted in God's promises, which are always fulfilled in His time. As we navigate life's challenges, may we find strength in the knowledge that God is with us, just as He was with Mary and the people of Isaiah's time.
In a world that often seeks control, Mary's example teaches us to surrender to God's plan. Let us, like her, be open to God's will, trusting that His presence guides us through all circumstances. The moral lesson is clear: trust in God's plan, obey His will, and recognize His continuous presence in our lives. Through this, we find true peace and purpose.