Daily Readings - Fri Dec 20 2019
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 invite us to reflect on the profound themes of trust and God's providence. In the first reading from Isaiah, we encounter a moment of divine promise amidst crisis. Ahaz, the King of Judah, is offered a sign by God, but he declines, fearing to tempt the Lord. Despite this refusal, God provides a sign anyway: a virgin shall conceive and bear a son named Immanuel, meaning "God is with us." This prophecy, spoken in a time of uncertainty, offers hope and assurance of God's enduring presence.
In the Gospel, we witness the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy through the Annunciation. The Angel Gabriel visits Mary, greeting her as one favored by God. Mary, though perplexed, accepts the divine plan with humility and faith, responding, "Let it be done to me according to your word." Her yes to God's will marks the beginning of a new era, as Jesus, the Son of the Most High, is born to reign forever.
These readings call us to trust in God's plan, even when circumstances seem uncertain. Like Mary, we are invited to surrender to God's will, trusting in His providence. In our daily lives, this faith enables us to face challenges with courage and hope, knowing that God is always with us. The moral lesson here is the power of faith and surrender, reminding us to embrace God's plan with openness and trust, just as Mary did.