Daily Readings - Sat Jul 29 2017

First Reading - Exodus 24.3-8

³Therefore, Moses went and explained to the people all the words of the Lord, as well as the judgments. And all the people responded with one voice: "We will do all the words of the Lord, which he has spoken.⁴Then Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. And rising up in the morning, he built an altar at the base of the mountain, with twelve titles according to the twelve tribes of Israel⁵And he sent youths from the sons of Israel, and they offered holocausts, and they immolated calves as peace-offerings to the Lord⁶And so Moses took one half part of the blood, and he put it into bowls. Then the remaining part he poured over the altar⁷And taking up the book of the covenant, he read it in the hearing of the people, who said: "All that the Lord has spoken, we will do, and we will be obedient.⁸In truth, taking up the blood, he sprinkled it on the people, and he said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has formed with you concerning all these words.

Gospel - John 11.17-27

John

Chapter 11

¹⁷And so Jesus went. And he found that he had already been in the tomb for four days¹⁸(Now Bethania was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia.¹⁹And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, so as to console them over their brother²⁰Therefore, Martha, when she heard that Jesus was arriving, went out to meet him. But Mary was sitting at home²¹And then Martha said to Jesus: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died²²But even now, I know that whatever you will request from God, God will give to you.²³Jesus said to her, "Your brother shall rise again.²⁴Martha said to him, "I know that he shall rise again, at the resurrection on the last day.²⁵Jesus said to her: "I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in me, even though he has died, he shall live²⁶And everyone who lives and believes in me shall not die for eternity. Do you believe this?²⁷She said to him: "Certainly, Lord. I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God, who has come into this world.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of covenant and promise. The first reading from Exodus describes Moses establishing a covenant with the Israelites, sealed with the sprinkling of blood, symbolizing their commitment to follow God's laws. This ritual binds the people to God, marking the beginning of a sacred relationship. The second reading from John presents Jesus as the source of eternal life, as He comforts Martha and Mary after Lazarus's death. Jesus's declaration, "I am the Resurrection and the Life," offers a new covenant through His own blood, promising eternal life to all who believe. These passages are deeply connected through the themes of covenant and life. In Exodus, the blood of animals seals the covenant, while in John, Jesus's blood inaugurates a new covenant, offering not just a set of laws but the gift of eternal life. This transition from the old to the new covenant highlights God's enduring promise to His people, evolving from a legal bond to a personal, life-giving relationship through Jesus. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our faith and trust in God's promises. Just as Martha trusted Jesus's power, we too can place our trust in His promise of eternal life. This faith should inspire our actions and decisions, guiding us to live with hope and resilience, knowing that our ultimate hope is in the resurrection and life through Christ. Let us embrace this covenant with gratitude, living each day with the assurance of eternal life that Jesus offers.