Daily Readings - Sat Apr 03 2021

¹In the beginning, God created heaven and earth²⁶And he said: "Let us make Man to our image and likeness. And let him rule over the fish of the sea, and the flying creatures of the air, and the wild beasts, and the entire earth, and every animal that moves on the earth.²⁷And God created man to his own image; to the image of God he created him; male and female, he created them²⁸And God blessed them, and he said, "Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and the flying creatures of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.²⁹And God said: "Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant upon the earth, and all the trees that have in themselves the ability to sow their own kind, to be food for you³⁰and for all the animals of the land, and for all the flying things of the air, and for everything that moves upon the earth and in which there is a living soul, so that they may have these on which to feed." And so it became³¹And God saw everything that he had made. And they were very good. And it became evening and morning, the sixth day

Romans

Chapter 6

³Do you not know that those of us who have been baptized in Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death⁴For through baptism we have been buried with him into death, so that, in the manner that Christ rose from the dead, by the glory of the Father, so may we also walk in the newness of life⁵For if we have been planted together, in the likeness of his death, so shall we also be, in the likeness of his resurrection⁶For we know this: that our former selves have been crucified together with him, so that the body which is of sin may be destroyed, and moreover, so that we may no longer serve sin⁷For he who has died has been justified from sin⁸Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live together with Christ⁹For we know that Christ, in rising up from the dead, can no longer die: death no longer has dominion over him¹⁰For in as much as he died for sin, he died once. But in as much as he lives, he lives for God¹¹And so, you should consider yourselves to be certainly dead to sin, and to be living for God in Christ Jesus our Lord

Mark

Chapter 16

¹And when the Sabbath had passed, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought aromatic spices, so that when they arrived they could anoint Jesus²And very early in the morning, on the first of the Sabbaths, they went to the tomb, the sun having now risen³And they said to one another, "Who will roll back the stone for us, away from the entrance of the tomb?⁴And looking, they saw that the stone was rolled back. For certainly it was very large⁵And upon entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, covered with a white robe, and they were astonished⁶And he said to them, "Do not become frightened. You are seeking Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucified One. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him⁷But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you into Galilee. There you shall see him, just as he told you.⁸But they, going out, fled from the tomb. For trembling and fear had overwhelmed them. And they said nothing to anyone. For they were afraid

Sermon

In today's readings, we journey through the narrative of creation, redemption, and resurrection, each offering a profound message about our relationship with God and our purpose in His plan. The first reading from Genesis reminds us of our creation in God's image, entrusted with stewardship over the earth. This passage establishes our inherent dignity and the sacred responsibility to care for God's creation. The second reading from Romans delves into the theological implications of baptism, symbolizing our death to sin and rebirth in Christ. It invites us to live a new life, free from the shackles of sin, and to embrace a life of righteousness. The Gospel from Mark vividly portrays the resurrection of Jesus, a testament to God's power over death and sin, offering us hope and eternal life. These readings are intricately connected, each building on the other. Genesis lays the foundation of our creation, Romans explains our redemption through Christ, and Mark's Gospel culminates in the resurrection, the ultimate act of God's love. Together, they reveal a narrative of creation, fall, and redemption, highlighting the transformative power of God's grace. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to embrace our new life in Christ, living with purpose and integrity. We are called to be mindful of our actions as children of God, striving to reflect His love and justice. The resurrection reminds us of the hope we have in eternal life, urging us to live each day with faith and courage. The moral lesson is clear: through baptism, we are transformed, called to live as new creations, embodying God's will in our lives. Let us embrace this transformation, living as witnesses of God's love and redemption in a world that deeply needs it.