Daily Readings - Thu Mar 31 2022
Exodus
7Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "Go, descend. Your people, whom you led away from the land of Egypt, have sinned8They have quickly withdrawn from the way which you revealed to them. And they have made for themselves a molten calf, and they have worshiped it. And immolating victims to it, they have said: ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who led you away from the land of Egypt.’ 9And again, the Lord said to Moses: "I discern that this people is stiff-necked10Release me, so that my fury may be enraged against them, and I may destroy them, and then I will make of you a great nation.11Then Moses prayed to the Lord his God, saying: "Why, O Lord, is your fury enraged against your people, whom you led away from the land of Egypt, with great strength and with a mighty hand12I beg you, let not the Egyptians say, ‘He cleverly led them away, so that he could put them to death in the mountains and destroy them from the earth.’ Let your anger be quieted and appeased concerning the wickedness of your people13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your very self, saying: ‘I will multiply your offspring like the stars of heaven. And this entire land, about which I have spoken, I will give to your offspring. And you shall possess it forever.’ 14And the Lord was appeased from doing the evil which he had spoken against his people
John
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 God31If I offer testimony about myself, my testimony is not true32There is another who offers testimony about me, and I know that the testimony which he offers about me is true33You sent to John, and he offered testimony to the truth34But I do not accept testimony from man. Instead, I say these things, so that you may be saved35He was a burning and shining light. So you were willing, at the time, to exult in his light36But I hold a greater testimony than that of John. For the works which the Father has given to me, so that I may complete them, these works themselves that I do, offer testimony about me: that the Father has sent me37And the Father who has sent me has himself offered testimony about me. And you have never heard his voice, nor have you beheld his appearance38And you do not have his word abiding in you. For the one whom he sent, the same you would not believe39Study the Scriptures. For you think that in them you have eternal life. And yet they also offer testimony about me40And you are not willing to come to me, so that you may have life41I do not accept glory from men42But I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you43I have come in the name of my Father, and you do not accept me. If another will arrive in his own name, him you will accept44How are you able to believe, you who accept glory from one another and yet do not seek the glory that is from God alone45Do not consider that I might accuse you with the Father. There is one who accuses you, Moses, in whom you hope46For if you were believing in Moses, perhaps you would believe in me also. For he wrote about me47But if you do not believe by his writings, how will you believe by my words?
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful moments of faith and unbelief. The first reading from Exodus tells the story of the Israelites’ rebellion against God while Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. The people, impatient and fearful, turn to a golden calf, worshipping it as their savior. Their actions are a stark rejection of the God who had just delivered them from slavery in Egypt. Moses, however, stands as a mediator, pleading with God to spare His people, reminding Him of His promises to their ancestors. This passage highlights the tension between human weakness and God’s steadfast love, as well as the importance of intercession and trust in God’s faithfulness.
The Gospel reading from John presents a similar dynamic of belief and unbelief, but in a very different context. Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, who are determined to kill Him because of His claims to divine sonship and His works, which they see as violations of the Sabbath. Jesus defends Himself by pointing to the testimony of John the Baptist, the works He performs, and the Father’s own witness. He laments that while the Pharisees study the Scriptures, they fail to recognize Him as the fulfillment of those Scriptures. This passage underscores the theme of spiritual blindness and the importance of seeking God’s glory rather than human approval.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God. The Israelites in Exodus turned to a false god because they lost sight of the true God who had delivered them. Similarly, the Pharisees in John failed to recognize Jesus because they were more committed to their own interpretations of the law than to seeking the truth. For us, this means being mindful of the ways we might turn away from God—whether through idolatry, spiritual complacency, or a refusal to see God’s presence in our lives. Like Moses, we are called to intercede for others and to trust in God’s promises, even when the world around us seems to have lost its way. And like Jesus, we are called to seek God’s glory and to open our hearts to the truth, even when it challenges our assumptions. May we, like the faithful remnant in both readings, remain steadfast in our commitment to God, trusting in His love and mercy, even when the world around us falters.