Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 25, 2025
First Reading: Isaiah 7.10-14; 8.10d
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.
Psalm 40
1I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.2He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.3He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.4Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.5Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.6Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced,; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.7Then I said, "Here I am, I have come- it is written about me in the scroll.8I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."9I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD.10I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.11Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.12For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.13Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.14May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.15May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be appalled at their own shame.16But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!"17Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.
Second Reading: Hebrews 10.4-10
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.
Gospel: Luke 1.26-38
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 a narrative that begins with prophecy, moves through explanation, and culminates in fulfillment, each step revealing God's profound plan for humanity.
The first reading from Isaiah presents a pivotal moment in history. Ahaz, faced with a threat, is offered a sign by God—a virgin bearing a son named Immanuel, "God is with us." This prophecy, spoken in a time of crisis, assures Ahaz of God's presence and foreshadows the Messiah's arrival. The context of war and political turmoil highlights the need for trust in divine providence. Isaiah's message is one of hope and assurance, reminding us that God's promises are unwavering.
The second reading from Hebrews elucidates the significance of Christ's sacrifice. It explains that animal sacrifices, while part of the old covenant, could not truly atone for sins. Christ's obedience to God's will, offering His body once for all, establishes a new covenant. This reading contextualizes the shift from the old to the new covenant, emphasizing that Christ's sacrifice is the ultimate expression of God's love and will.
In the Gospel, Luke's account of the Annunciation brings us to the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. Mary, with her trusting obedience, becomes the vessel through which God enters the world. Her response, "Let it be done to me according to your word," exemplifies faith and surrender. This moment is the climax of God's plan, where prophecy meets reality, and the divine becomes human.
These readings invite us to reflect on trust and obedience. Like Mary, we are called to embrace God's will, even when uncertain. The readings remind us that our faith is rooted in God's promises, which are always fulfilled in His time. As we navigate life's challenges, may we find strength in the knowledge that God is with us, just as He was with Mary and the people of Isaiah's time.
In a world that often seeks control, Mary's example teaches us to surrender to God's plan. Let us, like her, be open to God's will, trusting that His presence guides us through all circumstances. The moral lesson is clear: trust in God's plan, obey His will, and recognize His continuous presence in our lives. Through this, we find true peace and purpose.