Daily Readings - Sat Apr 06 2019
Jeremiah
18But you, O Lord, have revealed this to me, and I have understood. Then you displayed their efforts to me19And I was like a meek lamb, who is being carried to be a victim. And I did not realize that they had devised plans against me, saying: "Let us place wood upon his bread, and let us eradicate him from the land of the living, and let his name no longer be remembered.20But you, O Lord of hosts, who judges justly, and who tests the temperament and the heart, let me see your vengeance against them. For I have revealed my case to you
John
40Therefore, some from that crowd, when they had heard these words of his, were saying, "This one truly is the Prophet.41Others were saying, "He is the Christ." Yet certain ones were saying: "Does the Christ come from Galilee42Does Scripture not say that the Christ comes from the offspring of David and from Bethlehem, the town where David was?43And so there arose a dissension among the multitude because of him44Now certain ones among them wanted to apprehend him, but no one laid hands upon him45Therefore, the attendants went to the high priests and the Pharisees. And they said to them, "Why have you not brought him?46The attendants responded, "Never has a man spoken like this man.47And so the Pharisees answered them: "Have you also been seduced48Have any of the leaders believed in him, or any of the Pharisees49But this crowd, which does not know the law, they are accursed.50Nicodemus, the one who came to him by night and who was one of them, said to them51"Does our law judge a man, unless it has first heard him and has known what he has done?52They responded and said to him: "Are you also a Galilean? Study the Scriptures, and see that a prophet does not arise from Galilee.53And each one returned to his own house
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, discernment, and the challenges of faith. The first reading from Jeremiah describes the prophet’s unwavering trust in God despite the plots against him. Jeremiah, though innocent and meek, is targeted by those who seek to destroy him, yet he places his hope in God’s justice and mercy. The Gospel from John presents a divided crowd debating Jesus’ identity. Some recognize him as the Prophet or the Messiah, while others question his origins, citing Scripture to argue that the Messiah must come from Bethlehem, not Galilee. This division leads to tension, and even the authorities are perplexed by Jesus’ words and the people’s reaction to him.
Both readings highlight the theme of trust and discernment in the face of uncertainty. Jeremiah’s trust in God is rooted in his deep faith, even when faced with betrayal and danger. In the Gospel, the crowd and the leaders struggle to see beyond their preconceptions about the Messiah’s origins, revealing a spiritual blindness that prevents them from fully embracing the truth. These stories remind us that faith often requires us to look beyond the surface and to trust in God’s plan, even when circumstances seem confusing or unjust.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine how we respond to challenges and uncertainties. Like Jeremiah, we are called to trust in God’s justice and providence, even when we feel misunderstood or persecuted. Like the crowd in the Gospel, we are invited to move beyond our biases and preconceptions, opening our hearts and minds to the truth. May we, like Nicodemus, who dared to question the assumptions of others, cultivate the courage to seek understanding and to follow God’s will, even when it goes against the opinions of the world. Let us pray for the grace to trust in God’s plan and to discern His voice in the midst of life’s challenges.