8 April 2024 The Annunciation of the Lord
Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.
From Isaiah 7:10-14, 8:10, NRSV
The prophecy in today’s reading was given at the time when King Ahaz of Judah was being pressurised by neighbouring kings to form an alliance against the powerful armies of Babylon. The prophet Isaiah warned King Ahaz that such an alliance would fail and that it would be better for Ahaz to put his trust in God. Isaiah even promised Ahaz a sign of hope which he refused. Ahaz refused to ask for such a sign, believing that he could solve the problem in his own way. He had in fact already sold himself and his nation to a mighty Assyrian king rather than waiting for God to save them. This posturing by King Ahaz tested God’s patience and he gave the sign in any case. The sign is that of a young woman who will bear a son whom she will call Immanuel. The Hebrew translation of this name is “God with us” and was a sign that God would protect the House of David even when its kings did not. In today’s Feast of the Annunciation we see the fulfilment of that prophecy in the Angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary to inform her that she is to be the mother of Jesus Christ, Son of God.
- Why do you think God insisted on giving King Ahaz a sign he had not asked for?
- What are the signs of God’s presence in our world today?
You may like to read the gospel of the Annunciation from Luke 1:26-38 and to reflect on meaning of this event.
Image – The Prado Annunciation – by Fra Angelico
