Daily Readings - Fri Apr 08 2022
Jeremiah
7"You have led me away, O Lord, and I have been led away. You have been stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a derision all day long; everyone mocks me10For I heard the insults of many, and terror all around: ‘Persecute him!’ and, ‘Let us persecute him!’ from all the men who had been at peace with me and who had kept watch by my side. ‘If only there were some way that he might be deceived, and we might prevail against him and obtain vengeance from him!11But the Lord is with me, like a strong warrior. For this reason, those who persecute me will fall, and they will be ineffective. They will be greatly confounded. For they have not understood the everlasting disgrace that will never be wiped away12And you, O Lord of hosts, the Tester of the just, who sees the temperament and the heart: I beg you to let me see your vengeance upon them. For I have revealed my case to you13Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For he has freed the soul of the poor from the hand of the wicked
John
31Therefore, the Jews took up stones, in order to stone him32Jesus answered them: "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?33The Jews answered him: "We do not stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy and because, though you are a man, you make yourself God.34Jesus responded to them: "Is it not written in your law, ‘I said: you are gods?35If he called those to whom the word of God was given gods, and Scripture cannot be broken36why do you say, about him whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You have blasphemed,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God?37If I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe in me38But if I do them, even if you are not willing to believe in me, believe the works, so that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.39Therefore, they sought to apprehend him, but he escaped from their hands40And he went again across the Jordan, to that place where John first was baptizing. And he lodged there41And many went out to him. And they were saying: "Indeed, John accomplished no signs42But all things whatsoever that John said about this man were true." And many believed in him
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives of faith, persecution, and trust in God’s providence. The first reading from Jeremiah portrays the prophet as a man deeply afflicted by the mockery and persecution of those around him. Despite his suffering, Jeremiah clings to his faith in God, acknowledging that the Lord is his strength and that those who persecute him will ultimately fall. His cry to God is one of trust, even in the midst of great trial. In the Gospel, we see Jesus facing similar opposition. The Pharisees, unable to accept His divine claims, seek to stone Him for blasphemy. Yet Jesus stands firm, pointing to His works as evidence of His union with the Father. He reminds them that the Father’s presence in Him is the source of His authority and power.
Both readings highlight the tension between standing up for the truth and facing opposition. Jeremiah and Jesus are figures who embody the cost of proclaiming God’s message in a world that often resists it. For Jeremiah, this means enduring mockery and betrayal, while for Jesus, it means confronting the Pharisees’ refusal to accept His divine identity. Yet in both cases, we see a deep trust in God’s plan and a refusal to back down from their mission. This reminds us that living out our faith may not always be easy, but it is in these moments of challenge that our reliance on God is most evident.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how they apply to our own lives. How often do we face situations where standing up for what is right or living according to God’s truth leads to discomfort or even opposition? Like Jeremiah and Jesus, we are called to trust in God’s presence and providence, even when the road ahead seems uncertain. Let us pray for the courage to remain faithful, even in the face of adversity, and to remember that God is always with us, strengthening us to endure and to witness to His love.