Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 7, 2020
First Reading: Isaiah 49.1-6
1Pay attention, you islands, and listen closely, you far away peoples. The Lord has called me from the womb; from the womb of my mother, he has been mindful of my name2And he has appointed my mouth as a sharp sword. In the shadow of his hand, he has protected me. And he has appointed me as an elect arrow. In his quiver, he has hidden me3And he has said to me: "You are my servant, Israel. For in you, I will glory.4And I said: "I have labored toward emptiness. I have consumed my strength without purpose and in vain. Therefore, my judgment is with the Lord, and my work is with my God.5And now, says the Lord, who formed me from the womb as his servant, so that I may bring back Jacob to him, for Israel will not be gathered together, but I have been glorified in the eyes of the Lord and my God has become my strength6and so he has said: "It is a small thing that you should be my servant so as to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and so as to convert the dregs of Israel. Behold, I have offered you as a light for the Gentiles, so that you may be my salvation, even to the furthest regions of the earth.
Psalm 71
1A Psalm of David. Of the sons of Jonadab and the former captives. In you, O Lord, I have hoped; do not let me be brought to ruin forever2Free me by your justice, and rescue me. Incline your ear to me, and save me3Be a God of protection and a place of strength for me, so that you may accomplish my salvation. For you are my firmament and my refuge4Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the sinner, and from the hand of the unjust and those who act against the law5For you, O Lord, are my patience: my hope from my youth, O Lord6In you, I have been confirmed from conception. From my mother’s womb, you are my protector. In you, I will sing forever7I have become to many as if I were a portent, but you are a strong helper8Let my mouth be filled with praise, so that I may sing your glory, your greatness all day long9Do not cast me off in the time of old age. Do not abandon me when my strength will fail10For my enemies have spoken against me. And those who watched for my soul have taken counsel as one11saying: "God has abandoned him. Pursue and overtake him. For there is no one to rescue him.12O God, do not be far from me. O my God, provide for my assistance13May they be confounded, and may they fail, who drag down my soul. Let them be covered with confusion and shame, who seek evils for me14But I will always have hope. And I will add more to all your praise15My mouth will announce your justice, your salvation all day long. For I have not known letters16I will enter into the powers of the Lord. I will be mindful of your justice alone, O Lord17You have taught me from my youth, O God. And so I will declare your wonders continuously18even in old age and with grey hairs. Do not abandon me, O God, while I announce your arm to every future generation: your powe19and your justice, O God, even to the highest great things that you have done. O God, who is like you20How great is the tribulation that you have revealed to me: very great and evil. And so, turning back, you have brought me to life, and you have led me back again from the abyss of the earth21You have multiplied your magnificence. And so, turning back to me, you have consoled me22Therefore, I will confess your truth to you, with the instruments of the Psalter. O God, I will sing psalms to you with stringed instruments, O Holy One of Israel23My lips will exult, when I sing to you, and also my soul, which you have redeemed24And even my tongue will meditate on your justice all day long, when those who seek evils for me have been confounded and set in awe
Gospel: John 13.21-33, 36-38
21When Jesus had said these things, he was troubled in spirit. And he bore witness by saying: "Amen, amen, I say to you, that one among you shall betray me.22Therefore, the disciples looked around at one another, uncertain about whom he spoke23And leaning against the bosom of Jesus was one of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved24Therefore, Simon Peter motioned to this one and said to him, "Who is it that he is speaking about?25And so, leaning against the chest of Jesus, he said to him, "Lord, who is it?26Jesus responded, "It is he to whom I shall extend the dipped bread." And when he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon27And after the morsel, Satan entered into him. And Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly.28Now none of those sitting at table knew why he had said this to him29For some were thinking that, because Judas held the purse, that Jesus had told him, "Buy those things which are needed by us for the feast day," or that he might give something to the needy30Therefore, having accepted the morsel, he went out immediately. And it was night31Then, when he had gone out, Jesus said: "Now the Son of man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him32If God has been glorified in him, then God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him without delay33Little sons, for a brief while, I am with you. You shall seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you are not able to go,’ so also I say to you now36Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus responded: "Where I am going, you are not able to follow me now. But you shall follow afterward.37Peter said to him: "Why am I unable to follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!38Jesus answered him: "You will lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the rooster will not crow, until you deny me three times.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the mystery of God’s plan and our role within it. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear the voice of the servant of the Lord, who has been called and formed by God from the womb. Despite feelings of emptiness and discouragement, the servant comes to understand that his mission is not limited to Israel but extends to the Gentiles, making him a light to the nations. This passage reminds us that our lives are not our own but are part of a larger divine plan, even when we cannot see the full picture.
In the Gospel, Jesus reveals that one of his closest disciples will betray him. This moment of sorrow and betrayal is set against the backdrop of Jesus’ impending glorification through his Passion and Resurrection. Peter’s bold declaration to lay down his life for Jesus is met with a gentle but clear correction: before Peter can follow Jesus in sacrifice, he must first follow him in faith, even in moments of weakness and denial. This exchange teaches us that our fidelity to God is not measured by grand gestures but by our willingness to trust and follow him day by day, even when the road is uncertain.
Together, these readings call us to embrace the mystery of God’s plan in our lives. Like the servant in Isaiah, we may face moments of doubt or discouragement, but we are reminded that our true value lies in God’s purpose for us. Like Peter, we may stumble, but we are invited to rise again, trusting in God’s grace and guidance. Let us ask for the courage to follow Jesus, even when the path is difficult, and to trust that our lives, like his, will find their ultimate glorification in God’s love.