Daily Readings - Fri Dec 08 2017
Genesis
9But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"10He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."11And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"12The man said, "The woman you put here with me-she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."13Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."14So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.15And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."20Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.
Ephesians
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.11In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
Luke
26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.28The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.30But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.37For nothing is impossible with God."38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through pivotal moments in scripture that illuminate the human condition and God's plan of redemption. The first reading from Genesis recounts the aftermath of the Fall, where Adam and Eve confront their sin, leading to separation from God. This narrative underscores the consequences of disobedience and the introduction of suffering into the world. The second reading from Ephesians shifts our gaze to the blessings bestowed upon us in Christ, emphasizing predestination and adoption as children of God, highlighting the divine plan to restore humanity. The Gospel presents the Annunciation, where Mary's faithful "yes" to God's will initiates the redemption of humanity through the birth of Jesus.
These readings are deeply interconnected. The Fall in Genesis sets the stage for the need for redemption, which is fulfilled in Christ as described in Ephesians. Mary's obedience in Luke contrasts with Eve's disobedience, illustrating the reversal of the Fall through faith and trust in God. Together, they reveal the narrative arc from sin to redemption, emphasizing God's enduring love and mercy.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with sin and redemption. Like Adam and Eve, we all face moments of temptation and failure, but through faith and trust in God's plan, we can find redemption. Mary's example teaches us the power of surrender and obedience, encouraging us to embrace God's will in our lives. As we navigate life's challenges, we are reminded that our faith can transform our struggles into opportunities for growth and closer union with God.
The moral and spiritual reflection here is clear: our journey with God is one of trust and surrender. Just as Mary accepted God's plan with humility and faith, we too can embrace God's will in our lives, knowing that His plan is for our good. In moments of doubt or sin, we turn to Christ, who restores us and offers us new life. Let us strive to live with the faith and obedience of Mary, trusting in God's plan and allowing His grace to transform us.