Homily 03-25-2021 // ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD

FIRST READING Is 7:10-14; 8:10 A reading from the Book of Isaiah. In those days, the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, "Ask a sign from the Lord your God: in the depths of the abyss or in the heights of heaven." Ahaz replied, "I do not ask, I do not want to put the Lord to the test." Then Isaiah said, "Listen, O house of David: Is it not enough for you to weary men, that you weary even my God? The Lord, on his own account, will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will name him Immanuel, for God is with us." Word of God. Responsorial Psalm Ps 39:7-8a, 8b-9 10.11 (R/.: cf. 8a and 9a) R/. Here I am, Lord, to do your will. V/. You do not desire sacrifices and offerings, and yet you have opened my ear; you do not demand burnt offerings or sin offerings, then I say, "Here I am." R/. V/. "As it is written in my book, to do your will." My God, I desire it, and I carry your law in my heart. R/. V/. I have proclaimed your salvation before the great assembly; I have not closed my lips, Lord, you know. R/. V/. I have not hidden your justice within my heart, I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation, I have not denied your loving-kindness and your faithfulness before the great assembly. R/. SECOND READING Hebrews 10:4-10 Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews. BROODS: It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you formed for me; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not accept. Then I said, 'Here I am,' for it is written about me in the beginning of the book, to do your will, O God." First, he says: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, burnt offerings and sin offerings," which are offered according to the law. Then he adds: "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He denies the first, in order to affirm the second. And according to that will we have all been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. The Word of God.