Daily Readings - Wed Mar 17 2021
Isaiah
8Thus says the Lord: In a pleasing time, I have heeded you, and in the day of salvation, I have assisted you. And I have preserved you, and I have presented you as a covenant of the people, so that you would lift up the earth, and possess the scattered inheritances9so that you would say to those who are bound, "Go forth!" and to those who are in darkness, "Be released!" They will pasture along the roads, and their pastures will be in every open place10They will not hunger or thirst, nor will the heat of the sun beat down upon them. For the one who takes pity on them will rule them, and he will give them to drink from fountains of waters11And I will make all my mountains into a road, and my paths will be exalted12Behold, some will come from far away, and behold, others from the north and from the sea, and still others from the land of the south13Give praise, O heavens! And exult, O earth! Let the mountains give praise with jubilation! For the Lord has consoled his people, and he will take pity on his poor ones14And Zion said: "The Lord has abandoned me, and the Lord has forgotten me.15Can a woman forget her infant, so as not to take pity on the child of her womb? But even if she would forget, still I shall never forget you
John
16Because of this, the Jews were persecuting Jesus, for he was doing these things on the Sabbath17But Jesus answered them, "Even now, my Father is working, and I am working.18And so, because of this, the Jews were seeking to kill him even more so. For not only did he break the Sabbath, but he even said that God was his Father, making himself equal to God19Then Jesus responded and said to them: "Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son is not able to do anything of himself, but only what he has seen the Father doing. For whatever he does, even this does the Son do, similarly20For the Father loves the Son, and he shows him all that he himself does. And greater works than these will he show him, so much so that you shall wonder21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wills22For the Father does not judge anyone. But he has given all judgment to the Son23so that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son, does not honor the Father who sent him24Amen, amen, I say to you, that whoever hears my word, and believes in him who sent me, has eternal life, and he does not go into judgment, but instead he crosses from death into life25Amen, amen, I say to you, that the hour is coming, and it is now, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear it shall live26For just as the Father has life in himself, so also has he granted to the Son to have life in himself27And he has given him the authority to accomplish judgment. For he is the Son of man28Do not be amazed at this. For the hour is coming in which all who are in the grave shall hear the voice of the Son of God29And those who have done good shall go forth to the resurrection of life. Yet truly, those who have done evil shall go to the resurrection of judgment30I am not able to do anything of myself. As I hear, so do I judge. And my judgment is just. For I do not seek my own will, but the will of him who sent me
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s profound love and care for His people, as well as the divine authority and mission of Jesus Christ. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear the Lord’s promise of consolation and restoration to His people. Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a time when the scattered and suffering people of God will be gathered back, fed, and comforted. Zion, though feeling abandoned, is reminded that God’s love is far greater than any human love; even if a mother could forget her child, God will never forget His own. This passage speaks to the enduring faithfulness of God, who always remembers and cares for those who are His.
In the Gospel, Jesus defends His divine authority and mission. The Jews are angered because Jesus works on the Sabbath and claims a unique relationship with God the Father. Jesus explains that His works are not His own but are done in union with the Father. He emphasizes that the Father has entrusted Him with the power to give life and to judge. Jesus’ words challenge us to recognize His divine identity and to trust in His mission. He assures us that those who hear His word and believe in the Father will have eternal life, passing from death to life. This passage invites us to reflect on the profound truth of Jesus’ divinity and the eternal life He offers.
These readings remind us that our lives are rooted in God’s love and care. Just as Isaiah reassures Zion of God’s faithfulness, Jesus invites us to trust in His divine plan. In our daily lives, we are called to live with hope and confidence, knowing that God is always at work, even when we feel forgotten or uncertain. Let us strive to honor Jesus as the Son of God, to listen to His word, and to live in a way that reflects our faith. May we remember that our actions have eternal consequences and that we are called to live in a way that brings honor to God, who has given us life and salvation through His Son.