Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 28, 2020
First Reading: Jeremiah 11.18-20
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
Psalm 7
1A Psalm of David, which he sang to the Lord because of the words of Cush, the son of Jemini. O Lord, my God, in you I have hoped. Save me from all those who persecute me, and free me:2lest at any time, like a lion, he might seize my soul, while there is no one to redeem me, nor any who can save3O Lord, my God, if there is iniquity in my hands, if I have done this4if I have repaid those who rendered evils to me, may I deservedly fall away empty before my enemies5let the enemy pursue my soul, and take hold of it, and trample my life into the earth, and drag down my glory into the dust6Rise up, Lord, in your anger. And be exalted to the borders of my enemies. And rise up, O Lord my God, according to the precept that you commanded7and a congregation of people will surround you. And, because of this, return on high8The Lord judges the people. Judge me, O Lord, according to my justice and according to my innocence within me9The wickedness of sinners will be consumed, and you will direct the just: the examiner of hearts and temperaments is God10Just is my help from the Lord, who saves the upright of heart11God is a just judge, strong and patient. How could he be angry throughout every day12Unless you will be converted, he will brandish his sword. He has extended his bow and made it ready13And with it, he has prepared instruments of death. He has produced his arrows for those on fire14Behold him who has given birth to injustice: he has conceived sorrow and has begotten iniquity15He has opened a pit and enlarged it. And he has fallen into the hole that he made16His sorrow will be turned upon his own head, and his iniquity will descend upon his highest point17I will confess to the Lord according to his justice, and I will sing a psalm to the name of the Lord Most High
Gospel: John 7.40-53
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 following God’s will. The first reading from Jeremiah portrays the prophet as a meek lamb led to slaughter, unaware of the plots against him. Jeremiah’s trust in God’s justice shines through as he cries out to the Lord, seeking vengeance not out of malice but out of a deep reliance on God’s righteousness. This passage reminds us that even in the face of betrayal and uncertainty, faith in God’s plan can sustain us.
The Gospel from John presents a scene of division and confusion. Jesus’ words have stirred debate among the crowd, with some hailing him as the Prophet or the Messiah, while others question his origins. The Pharisees dismiss the crowd as ignorant and argue that no prophet can come from Galilee. Nicodemus, however, challenges their rush to judgment, advocating for a fair hearing. This passage highlights the tension between preconceived notions and the truth of God’s revelation. It calls us to humility and openness, lest we, like the Pharisees, allow our assumptions to blind us to the presence of God.
Both readings encourage us to examine our own hearts and minds. Jeremiah’s trust in God’s justice invites us to surrender our struggles to the Lord, even when the path ahead seems unclear. The Gospel challenges us to approach God’s truth with humility, avoiding the pitfalls of prejudice and self-reliance. In our daily lives, let us strive to trust in God’s plan, even when faced with opposition, and to seek the truth with open and discerning hearts. May we, like Jeremiah, find strength in God’s justice, and may we, like Nicodemus, advocate for fairness and understanding in a world often divided by doubt and fear.