Daily Readings - Thu Mar 25 2021
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.
Hebrews
4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;6with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.7Then I said, 'Here I am--it is written about me in the scroll--I have come to do your will, O God.'"8First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made).9Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second.10And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
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 are invited to reflect on the themes of trust, obedience, and the fulfillment of God’s plan. The first reading from Isaiah recounts the moment when King Ahaz is offered a sign by God, yet he hesitates, leading to the profound prophecy of a virgin bearing a son named Immanuel. This passage underscores the importance of trusting in God’s providence, even when circumstances seem uncertain. The second reading from Hebrews highlights the insufficiency of animal sacrifices to atone for sins, emphasizing that true redemption comes through Christ’s obedience to God’s will. This passage reminds us that our acts of faith and surrender are more pleasing to God than any external rituals. In the Gospel, Luke presents the Annunciation, where Mary, with humility and faith, accepts God’s plan, embodying the perfect response to divine will.
These readings are intricately connected, as they all point to the fulfillment of God’s plan through trust and obedience. Isaiah’s prophecy finds its fulfillment in Mary’s “yes,” which opens the way for Christ’s incarnation. The Hebrews reading explains the deeper significance of Christ’s sacrifice, which is the ultimate act of obedience to God’s will. Together, they teach us that trust in God’s plan, even when it seems impossible, leads to the realization of His divine will.
In our daily lives, we are often faced with challenges that require us to trust in God’s plan. Like Mary, we are called to say “yes” to God’s will, even when it seems difficult or uncertain. This trust is not passive but active, requiring us to align our will with God’s. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Where in my life am I being called to trust in God’s plan? How can I, like Mary, surrender to His will and allow His grace to work through me? May we, through our faith and obedience, become instruments of God’s grace in the world.