Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 15, 2019
First Reading: Isaiah 42.1-7
1Behold my servant, I will uphold him, my elect, with him my soul is well-pleased. I have sent my Spirit upon him. He will offer judgment to the nations2He will not cry out, and he will not show favoritism to anyone; neither will his voice be heard abroad3The bruised reed he will not break, and the smoldering wick he will not extinguish. He will lead forth judgment unto truth4He will not be saddened or troubled, until he establishes judgment on earth. And the islands will await his law5Thus says the Lord God, who created the heavens and expanded it, who formed the earth and all that springs from it, who gives breath to the people in it, and spirit to those walking on it6I, the Lord, have called you in justice, and I have taken your hand and preserved you. And I have presented you as a covenant of the people, as a light to the Gentiles7so that you may open the eyes of the blind, and lead out the prisoner from confinement and those sitting in darkness from the house of incarceration
Psalm 27
1A Psalm of David, before he was sealed. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life, of whom shall I be afraid2Meanwhile, the guilty draw near to me, so as to eat my flesh. Those who trouble me, my enemies, have themselves been weakened and have fallen3If entrenched armies were to stand together against me, my heart would not fear. If a battle were to rise up against me, I would have hope in this4One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, so that I may behold the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple5For he has hidden me in his tabernacle. In the day of evils, he has protected me in the hidden place of his tabernacle6He has exalted me upon the rock, and now he has exalted my head above my enemies. I have circled around and offered a sacrifice of loud exclamation in his tabernacle. I will sing, and I will compose a psalm, to the Lord7Hear my voice, O Lord, with which I have cried out to you. Have mercy on me, and hear me8My heart has spoken to you; my face has sought you. I yearn for your face, O Lord9Do not turn your face away from me. In your wrath, do not turn aside from your servant. Be my helper. Do not abandon me, and do not despise me, O God, my Saviour10For my father and my mother have left me behind, but the Lord has taken me up11O Lord, establish a law for me in your way, and direct me in the right path, because of my enemies12Do not surrender me to the souls of those who trouble me. For unjust witnesses have risen up against me, and iniquity has lied to itself13I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living14Wait for the Lord, act manfully; and let your heart be strengthened, and remain with the Lord
Gospel: John 12.1-11
1Then six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethania, where Lazarus had died, whom Jesus raised up2And they made a dinner for him there. And Martha was ministering. And truly, Lazarus was one of those who were sitting at table with him3And then Mary took twelve ounces of pure spikenard ointment, very precious, and she anointed the feet of Jesus, and she wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment4Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was soon to betray him, said5"Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the needy?6Now he said this, not out of concern for the needy, but because he was a thief and, since he held the purse, he used to carry what was put into it7But Jesus said: "Permit her, so that she may keep it against the day of my burial8For the poor, you have with you always. But me, you do always not have.9Now a great multitude of the Jews knew that he was in that place, and so they came, not so much because of Jesus, but so that they might see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead10And the leaders of the priests planned to put Lazarus to death also11For many of the Jews, because of him, were going away and were believing in Jesus
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound reflections on service, love, and the divine plan. The first reading from Isaiah introduces us to the figure of the suffering servant, chosen by God to bring justice and light to the nations. This servant, humble and gentle, will not break the bruised reed or extinguish the smoldering wick, symbolizing his compassion and care for the vulnerable. Isaiah’s prophecy points to a Messiah who will lead with truth and hope, even in darkness.
The Gospel from John presents us with a vivid scene of love and betrayal. Mary’s anointing of Jesus with precious ointment is an act of profound devotion, preparing him for his burial. While Judas objects, focusing on material concerns, Jesus defends Mary’s gesture, emphasizing that her love is a testament to his impending sacrifice. This moment highlights the contrast between worldly priorities and the selfless love that defines God’s plan.
These readings remind us that our faith calls us to embody humility and compassion. Like the suffering servant, we are invited to serve others gently and bring light to those in darkness. Like Mary, we are called to express our love for God generously, even in the face of criticism or misunderstanding. Let us reflect on how we can live out these values in our daily lives, trusting in God’s plan and offering our own acts of love and service to others.