The word of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us; and we saw his glory - Daily Bible Readings March 25,2014

1^ST READING

 

Why God chose the way He did to work out our salvation will always remain a mystery to us. But, if it is good enough for God, then it ought to be good enough for us. God wants Ahaz to ask for a sign so that He, God, can strengthen Ahaz’s faith by granting it. The crazy thing is that Ahaz refuses to ask for a sign and so God tells him that Jerusalem will be delivered from its siege within the next nine months.

 

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10

10 The Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying: 11 “Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!” 12 But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!” 13 Then Isaiah said: “Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary people, must you also weary my God? 8: 10 Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means “With us is God!”

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 40:7-8, 8-9, 10, 11

R: Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

6 [7] Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. 7 [8] Holocaust or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, “Behold I come.” (R) “In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, 8 [9] to do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!” (R) 9 [10] I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O Lord, know. (R) 10 [11] Your justice I kept not hid within my heart; your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of; I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth in the vast assembly. (R)

 

2^ND READING

 

The greatest sacrifice we can offer to the Lord, apart from the Eucharist, is obedience to His will. This is precisely what Christ offers on the cross — not so much His life but His obedience to God. It is Christ’s obedience that in one sense undoes the disobedience of Adam, namely sin. Let us always remain obedient to God’s will and so embrace the work of salvation He has begun within us.

 

Hebrews 10:4-10

4 Brothers and sisters: It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats take away sins. 5 For this reason, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight in. 7 Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, Behold, I come to do your will, O God.’ ” 8 First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in.” These are offered according to the law. 9 Then he says, “Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. 10 By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

 

GOSPEL

 

Mary is a great example of obedience. It is inconceivable to think that she fully knew the consequences of her obedience to God’s offer to become the mother of His only Son. Even without full knowledge of what it would mean, Mary accedes to God’s will. Here is a perfect example of faith and trust in God. Let us seek to follow it.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The word of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us; and we saw his glory.

 

Luke 1:26-38

26 The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” 35 And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; 37 for nothing will be impossible for God.” 38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

 

think: The greatest sacrifice we can offer to the Lord, apart from the Eucharist, is obedience to His will.

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: __________________

 

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God’s special verse/thought for me today_

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Genesis 37-39