Daily Readings for April 4, 2016

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

1ST READING

The Church Fathers often used this text to prophesy the role of Mary in salvation history. However, studying it shows that it addresses a contemporary event in Isaiah’s time. He refers to particular situations surrounding the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrians. This is the way a prophecy in the Old Testament works — an event in the past or near the prophet’s time, has a hidden or explicit meaning as regards a future happening.

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 netherworld, 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? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, 8:10 which means “God is with us!”

P S A L M

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

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

6 [7] Sacrifice or offering you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Holocausts and sin-offerings you sought not; 7 [8] 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)

2ND READING

The Old Testament focused on expensive and messy sacrifices of animals. The sacrifice that Jesus asks of us, Christians, is our lives. He demands that we follow in His footsteps and live a life of service and love. This is the sacrifice that God desires — that we love and serve Him and one another all the days of our lives. Our faith is a personal reality, a series of personal relationships with God and others.

Hebrews 10:4-10

4 Brothers and sisters: It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats takes 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. 7 Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.’” 8 First Christ 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 lived a life of obedience that serves as a model for discipleship. Christians forgetting what it means to be disciples — giving themselves to the call of the Gospel freely, willingly and lovingly — is the biggest challenge of the Church today. Without true disciples, the life of the Church lacks the lived and breathed imitation of Christ. The Gospel then is bereft of its power without this.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Word 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.

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