Daily Readings - Sun Apr 03 2022
Isaiah
16Thus says the Lord, who gave you a way through the sea and a path through the torrent of waters17who led out the chariot and the horse, the column of robust troops. They went to sleep together, and they will not arise. They have been crushed like flax, and they have been extinguished18You need not call to mind the past, nor consider the things of antiquity19Behold, I am accomplishing new things. And presently, they will spring forth. With certainty, you will know them. I will make a way in the desert, and rivers in an impassible place20The wild beasts of the field will glorify me, with the serpents and the ostriches. For I have brought waters to the desert, rivers to inaccessible places, in order to give drink to my people, to my elect21This is the people whom I have formed for myself. They will speak my praise
Philippians
8Yet truly, I consider everything to be a loss, because of the preeminent knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of everything, considering it all to be like dung, so that I may gain Christ9and so that you may be found in him, not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ Jesus, the justice within faith, which is of God10So shall I know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his Passion, having been fashioned according to his death11if, by some means, I might attain to the resurrection which is from the dead12It is not as though I have already received this, or were already perfect. But rather I pursue, so that by some means I might attain, that in which I have already been attained by Christ Jesus13Brothers, I do not consider that I have already attained this. Instead, I do one thing: forgetting those things that are behind, and extending myself toward those things that are ahead14I pursue the destination, the prize of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus
John
1But Jesus continued on to the Mount of Olives2And early in the morning, he went again to the temple; and all the people came to him. And sitting down, he taught them3Now the scribes and Pharisees brought forward a woman caught in adultery, and they stood her in front of them4And they said to him: "Teacher, this woman was just now caught in adultery5And in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such a one. Therefore, what do you say?6But they were saying this to test him, so that they might be able to accuse him. Then Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the earth7And then, when they persevered in questioning him, he stood upright and said to them, "Let whoever is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.8And bending down again, he wrote on the earth9But upon hearing this, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest. And Jesus alone remained, with the woman standing in front of him10Then Jesus, raising himself up, said to her: "Woman, where are those who accused you? Has no one condemned you?11And she said, "No one, Lord." Then Jesus said: "Neither will I condemn you. Go, and now do not choose to sin anymore.
Sermon
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the themes of redemption, mercy, and the pursuit of holiness. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear the prophet’s assurance that God is always doing something new, even in the midst of our failures and shortcomings. The image of making a way in the desert and bringing life to barren places reminds us that God’s mercy and creativity are boundless. This passage, spoken to the Israelites in exile, encourages them—and us—to trust in God’s promise of redemption and to look forward with hope, rather than dwelling on past mistakes.
The second reading from Philippians deepens this theme as St. Paul shares his own spiritual journey. He confesses that all his accomplishments are worthless compared to the knowledge of Christ. Paul’s focus is not on his past achievements or failures but on pressing forward toward the goal of union with Christ. He reminds us that true holiness is not about self-justification but about trusting in God’s grace and sharing in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. This reading challenges us to re-examine our priorities and to seek a deeper relationship with Christ above all else.
In the Gospel, Jesus’ encounter with the woman caught in adultery offers a powerful example of mercy and compassion. While the law and the Pharisees sought to condemn, Jesus chose to forgive and to invite the woman to a new way of life. His words, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone,” remind us that we are all in need of God’s mercy. This story calls us to reflect on our own judgmental tendencies and to imitate Christ’s compassion in our interactions with others.
These readings, when taken together, offer a profound spiritual reflection: God is always doing something new in our lives, but we must be open to receiving His mercy and grace. Like Paul, we are called to press forward, leaving behind the burdens of our past and trusting in God’s plan for us. And like Jesus, we are challenged to extend mercy and compassion to others, recognizing that we are all sinners in need of forgiveness. May we, like the woman in the Gospel, hear Jesus’ words of pardon and go forth to live lives marked by love, humility, and gratitude.