Daily Readings - Wed Dec 20 2017
Isaiah
10Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz,11"Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights."12But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test."13Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also?14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
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
The readings today take us to the heart of God’s plan of salvation, weaving together prophecy and fulfillment, faith and trust. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear the prophet offering King Ahaz a sign from God—a promise that a virgin will bear a son named Immanuel, “God with us.” This passage, spoken in a time of crisis and uncertainty for the people of Judah, is a testament to God’s enduring presence and fidelity. It is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, God does not abandon His people but instead offers them hope and assurance.
In the Gospel, we fast-forward to the moment when this prophecy is fulfilled. The Angel Gabriel appears to Mary, a young virgin from Nazareth, announcing that she will bear a son, Jesus, who will be the Son of the Most High and reign forever. Mary’s response—“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word”—is a model of faith and surrender. Her “yes” to God’s plan is not born of understanding or control but of trust in His goodness and providence. This moment is the hinge of history, where the promises of the Old Testament meet the reality of the Incarnation.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God. Like Mary, we are called to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems impossible or beyond our comprehension. In a world often marked by doubt and fear, we are reminded that God is with us, just as He was with Mary and the people of Judah. The moral lesson here is clear: faith is not about having all the answers but about surrendering to God’s will with humility and courage. As we prepare for the coming of Christ this Advent season, let us imitate Mary’s openness and trust, allowing God to work in our lives in ways we cannot yet see or understand.