Daily Readings - Fri Mar 25 2022
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust in God's plan and the fulfillment of divine promises. In Isaiah, we see Ahaz refusing a sign, yet God still provides the sign of Immanuel, a promise of hope amidst uncertainty. This passage, set during the Assyrian crisis, emphasizes God's faithfulness despite human doubt. In Hebrews, we learn that Christ's sacrifice transcends the old order, fulfilling God's will and providing true sanctification. This theological explanation underscores Christ's role as the perfect sacrifice. In Luke, the Annunciation shows Mary's trust and openness to God's will, a pivotal moment in salvation history.
These readings interrelate by progressively revealing God's plan. Isaiah's Immanuel points to a future savior, which Hebrews explains as Christ fulfilling God's will through his sacrifice. Luke actualizes this with Mary's acceptance, showing the fulfillment in Jesus' birth.
In our daily lives, we are called to trust God's plan, even when unclear. Like Mary, we can accept God's will, trusting His word and being open to His plan. Mary's example teaches us to humbly submit, trusting that God's word will fulfill His purpose. Let us embrace trust in God's plan, following Mary's example in openness and faith, reflecting on how His word brings life and hope.