Daily Readings - Fri Apr 01 2022
Wisdom
1For they have said, reasoning with themselves incorrectly: "Our lifetime is brief and tedious, and there is no relief within the limits of man, and no one is acknowledged to have returned from the dead12Therefore, let us encircle the just, because he is useless to us, and he is against our works, and he reproaches us with our legal offenses, and makes known to us the sins of our way of life13He promises that he has the knowledge of God and he calls himself the son of God14He was made among us to expose our very thoughts15He is grievous for us even to behold, for his life is unlike other men’s lives, and immutable are his ways16It is as if we are considered by him to be insignificant, and he abstains from our ways as from filth; he prefers the newly justified, and he glories that he has God for his father17Let us see, then, if his words are true, and let us test what will happen to him, and then we will know what his end will be18For if he is the true son of God, he will receive him and deliver him from the hands of his adversaries19Let us examine him with insult and torture, that we may know his reverence and try his patience20Let us condemn him to a most shameful death, for, according to his own words, God will care for him.21These things they thought, and they were mistaken, for their own malice blinded them22And they were ignorant of the mysteries of God; they neither hoped for the reward of justice, nor judged the value of holy souls
John
1Then, after these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee. For he was not willing to walk in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him2Now the feast day of the Jews, the Feast of Tabernacles, was near10But after his brothers went up, then he also went up to the feast day, not openly, but as if in secret25Therefore, some of those from Jerusalem said: "Is he not the one whom they are seeking to kill26And behold, he is speaking openly, and they say nothing to him. Could the leaders have decided that it is true this one is the Christ27But we know him and where he is from. And when the Christ has arrived, no one will know where he is from.28Therefore, Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying: "You know me, and you also know where I am from. And I have not arrived of myself, but he who sent me is true, and him you do not know29I know him. For I am from him, and he has sent me.30Therefore, they were seeking to apprehend him, and yet no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of faith, rejection, and divine providence. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we encounter the unjust suffering of a righteous man. His persecutors, driven by malice and ignorance, question his faith and God’s presence in his life, leading them to test him through suffering and death. This passage highlights the profound trust of the just in God’s plan, even in the face of immense adversity. The Gospel from John presents Jesus, who faces similar rejection and skepticism. Despite the danger, Jesus boldly proclaims his divine mission, teaching in the temple and asserting that he is sent by God, whom the people do not fully understand. The Pharisees’ attempt to arrest him reminds us that Jesus’ time had not yet come, underscoring the mystery of God’s timing and plan.
Both readings reveal a deep connection in their portrayal of rejection and misunderstanding. The just man in Wisdom and Jesus in the Gospel embody the same faith and trust in God’s plan, even when surrounded by hostility and confusion. The first reading warns us against the blindness of malice and the dangers of doubting God’s presence in the lives of the righteous. The Gospel, meanwhile, shows us Jesus as the ultimate example of steadfastness in fulfilling his mission, despite the opposition. Together, these readings remind us that true wisdom and justice are often met with resistance, but they also assure us that God’s truth will ultimately prevail.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to embrace faith and trust in God’s plan, especially when we face challenges or misunderstandings. Like the just man and Jesus, we are invited to remain steadfast in our commitment to God, even when others question or oppose us. Let us reflect on our own lives and ask: Where am I experiencing rejection or doubt? How can I trust more deeply in God’s plan and timing? May we, like Jesus, find the courage to live out our faith boldly, knowing that God’s truth will shine through, even in the darkest moments.