Daily Thought For March 25, 2022

-

 On The Solemnity of the Annunciation


First Reading: Is 7:10–14; 8:10

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 40:7–8a, 8b–9, 10, 11

Second Reading: Heb 10:4–10

Gospel: Lk 1:26–38

The Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore once observed that the birth of every child is a sign that God has not given up on the world. In a sense, that is the meaning of the oracle with which the prophet Isaiah confronts King Ahaz in today’s first reading. The birth of a child, perhaps even a royal son, will be a sign that God remains with the people of Judah in their present crisis that is exacerbated by the faithlessness of their king. Therefore, the child will be named “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us” (Mt 1:23; see Is 7:14).

The angel Gabriel announces the same news to Mary in today’s Gospel. The message contains two parts. The first renews God’s firm promise to David’s house by announcing the birth of a royal son: “The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father … and of his Kingdom there will be no end” (Lk 1:32–33). But there is more. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,” the angel tells Mary. “Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God” (v. 35). For this there is no precedent in the house of David or the history of Israel. This is not old news, but Good News (Gospel), to which Mary says, “May it be done to me according to your word” (v. 38).

Celia Sirois, Word of Life: Daily Scripture Companion (Boston, MA: Pauline Books & Media, 2008), 547.

Popular posts from this blog

Daily Thought For October 23, 2022

-
  Powerful Reflection from The Word Among Us Let’s not get off on the wrong foot with the Pharisee in this parable. He seemed to be doing pretty well spiritually. He was not greedy, dishonest, or adulterous. He fasted twice a week and went so far as to pay tithes on all his income. He prayed at the Temple regularly. That was better than most people. So why did Jesus say he didn’t go home justified? Because the Temple was a place of encounter with God. A holy location where God and his children came together. This Pharisee seemed to be missing that connection with the Lord. Instead of speaking his prayer to God, he prayed “to himself” (Luke 18:11) and itemized his accomplishments. By focusing on his righteous acts, he was not really making himself present to God. He wasn’t inviting God to be present to him either. So he missed the chance to encounter God and receive his mercy and grace. In that sense, the Pharisee left the Temple basically the same way he had entered. The tax collector,
Read more

Daily Thought For May 12, 2016

-
With God Setbacks Become Opportunities EVERY TIME something thwarts your plans or desires, use that as a reminder to communicate with Me. This practice has several benefits. The first is obvious: Talking with Me blesses you and strengthens our relationship. Another benefit is that disappointments, instead of dragging you down, are transformed into opportunities for good. This transformation removes the sting from difficult circumstances, making it possible to be joyful in the midst of adversity.  Begin by practicing this discipline in all the little disappointments of daily life. It is often these minor setbacks that draw you away from My Presence. When you reframe setbacks as opportunities, you find that you gain much more than you have lost. It is only after much training that you can accept major losses in this positive way. But it is possible to attain the perspective of the apostle Paul, who wrote:  Compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, I consider eve
Read more