Daily Readings - Wed Dec 08 2021
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 the narrative of humanity’s fall, the promise of redemption, and the fulfillment of that promise in Jesus Christ. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Adam and Eve, where their disobedience leads to separation from God, yet we also hear the first promise of salvation through Eve’s offspring. The second reading from Ephesians reveals that we are chosen by God, predestined for adoption, and blessed with every spiritual gift in Christ. The Gospel from Luke presents the Annunciation, where Mary, with faith and obedience, accepts her role in God’s plan, leading to the incarnation of Jesus.
These readings are deeply connected. The fall in Genesis sets the stage for humanity’s need for redemption, which Ephesians and Luke fulfill through Christ. Ephesians explains our spiritual identity as God’s chosen people, while Luke shows the moment this redemption begins. Mary’s “Yes” to God’s plan exemplifies trust and obedience, contrasting with Adam and Eve’s disobedience. This highlights the shift from sin to salvation, emphasizing our role in God’s plan.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to trust in God’s plan, even amidst challenges. Like Mary, we are called to say “Yes” to God, embracing our part in His story. Recognizing our identity as His chosen people, we live with hope and purpose. The moral lesson is clear: trust in God’s providence, live with hope, and accept His will, reflecting Mary’s faith and obedience.