Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 10, 2022
First Reading: Isaiah 50.4-7
4The Lord has given me a learned tongue, so that I would know how to uphold with a word, one who has weakened. He rises in the morning, he rises to my ear in the morning, so that I may heed him like a teacher5The Lord God has opened my ear. And I do not contradict him. I have not turned back6I have given my body to those who strike me, and my cheeks to those who plucked them. I have not averted my face from those who rebuked me and who spit on me7The Lord God is my helper. Therefore, I have not been confounded. Therefore, I have set my face like a very hard rock, and I know that I will not be confounded
Psalm 22
1Unto the end. For the tasks of early morning. A Psalm of David. O God, my God, look upon me. Why have you forsaken me? Far from my salvation are the words of my offenses2My God, I will cry out by day, and you will not heed, and by night, and it will not be foolishness for me3But you dwell in holiness, O Praise of Israel4In you, our fathers have hoped. They hoped, and you freed them5They cried out to you, and they were saved. In you, they hoped and were not confounded6But I am a worm and not a man: a disgrace among men, and an outcast of the people7All those who saw me have derided me. They have spoken with the lips and shook the head8He has hoped in the Lord, let him rescue him. Let him save him because he chooses him9For you are the one who has drawn me out of the womb, my hope from the breasts of my mother10I have been thrown upon you from the womb; from the womb of my mother, you are my God11Do not depart from me. For tribulation is near, since there is no one who may help me12Many calves have surrounded me; fat bulls have besieged me13They have opened their mouths over me, just like a lion seizing and roaring14And so, I have been poured out like water, and all my bones have been scattered. My heart has become like wax, melting in the midst of my chest15My strength has dried up like clay, and my tongue has adhered to my jaws. And you have pulled me down, into the dust of death16For many dogs have surrounded me. The council of the malicious has besieged me. They have pierced my hands and feet17They have numbered all my bones. And they have examined me and stared at me18They divided my garments among them, and over my vestment, they cast lots19But you, O Lord, do not take your help far from me; be attentive to my defense20O God, rescue my soul from the spear, and my only one from the hand of the dog21Save me from the mouth of the lion, and my humility from the horns of the single-horned beast22I will declare your name to my brothers. In the midst of the Church, I will praise you23You who fear the Lord, praise him. All the offspring of Jacob, glorify him24May all the offspring of Israel fear him. For he has neither spurned nor despised the pleas of the poor. Neither has he turned his face away from me. And when I cried out to him, he heeded me25My praise is with you, within a great church. I will pay my vows in the sight of those who fear him26The poor will eat and be satisfied, and those who yearn for the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will live forever and ever27All the ends of the earth will remember, and they will be converted to the Lord. And all the families of the Gentiles will adore in his sight28For the kingdom belongs to the Lord, and he will have dominion over the Gentiles29All the fat of the earth have gnashed their teeth, and they have adored. In his sight, they will fall down, all those who descend to the ground30And my soul will live for him, and my offspring will serve him31There will be announced for the Lord a future generation, and the heavens will announce his justice to a people who will be born, whom the Lord has made
Second Reading: Philippians 2.6-11
6who, though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be seized7Instead, he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and accepting the state of a man8He humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, even the death of the Cross9Because of this, God has also exalted him and has given him a name which is above every name10so that, at the name of Jesus, every knee would bend, of those in heaven, of those on earth, and of those in hell11and so that every tongue would confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father
Gospel: Luke 22.66 – 23.49
66And when it was daytime, the elders of the people, and the leaders of the priests, and the scribes convened. And they led him into their council, saying, "If you are the Christ, tell us.67And he said to them: "If I tell you, you will not believe me68And if I also question you, you will not answer me. Neither will you release me69But from this time, the Son of man will be sitting at the right hand of the power of God.70Then they all said, "So you are the Son of God?" And he said. "You are saying that I am.71And they said: "Why do we still require testimony? For we have heard it ourselves, from his own mouth.
1And the entire multitude of them, rising up, led him to Pilate2Then they began to accuse him, saying, "We found this one subverting our nation, and prohibiting giving tribute to Caesar, and saying that he is Christ the king.3And Pilate questioned him, saying: "You are the king of the Jews?" But in response, he said: "You are saying it.4Then Pilate said to the leaders of the priests and to the crowds, "I find no case against this man.5But they continued more intensely, saying: "He has stirred up the people, teaching throughout all of Judea, beginning from Galilee, even to this place.6But Pilate, upon hearing Galilee, asked if the man were of Galilee7And when he realized that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him away to Herod, who was himself also at Jerusalem in those days8Then Herod, upon seeing Jesus, was very glad. For he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard so many things about him, and he was hoping to see some kind of sign wrought by him9Then he questioned him with many words. But he gave him no response at all10And the leaders of the priests, and the scribes, stood firm in persistently accusing him11Then Herod, with his soldiers, scorned him. And he ridiculed him, clothing him in a white garment. And he sent him back to Pilate12And Herod and Pilate became friends on that day. For previously they were enemies to one another13And Pilate, calling together the leaders of the priests, and the magistrates, and the people14said to them: "You have brought before me this man, as one who disturbs the people. And behold, having questioned him before you, I find no case against this man, in those things about which you accuse him15And neither did Herod. For I sent you all to him, and behold, nothing deserving of death was recorded about him16Therefore, I will chastise him and release him.17Now he was required to release one person for them on the feast day18But the entire crowd exclaimed together, saying: "Take this one, and release to us Barabbas!19Now he had been cast into prison because of a certain sedition that occurred in the city and for murder20Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus21But they shouted in response, saying: "Crucify him! Crucify him!22Then he said to them a third time: "Why? What evil has he done? I find no case against him for death. Therefore, I will chastise him and release him.23But they persisted, with loud voices, in demanding that he be crucified. And their voices increased in intensity24And so Pilate issued a judgment granting their petition25Then he released for them the one who had been cast into prison for murder and sedition, whom they were requesting. Yet truly, Jesus he handed over to their will26And as they were leading him away, they apprehended a certain one, Simon of Cyrene, as he was returning from the countryside. And they imposed the cross on him to carry after Jesus27Then a great crowd of people followed him, with women who were mourning and lamenting him28But Jesus, turning to them, said: "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep over me. Instead, weep over yourselves and over your children29For behold, the days will arrive in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the breasts that have not nursed.30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall over us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.31For if they do these things with green wood, what will be done with the dry?32Now they also led out two other criminals with him, in order to execute them33And when they arrived at the place that is called Calvary, they crucified him there, with the robbers, one to the right and the other to the left34Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do." And truly, dividing his garments, they cast lots35And people were standing near, watching. And the leaders among them derided him, saying: "He saved others. Let him save himself, if this one is the Christ, the elect of God.36And the soldiers also ridiculed him, approaching him and offering him vinegar37and saying, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.38Now there was also an inscription written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS39And one of those robbers who were hanging blasphemed him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.40But the other responded by rebuking him, saying: "Do you have no fear of God, since you are under the same condemnation41And indeed, it is just for us. For we are receiving what our deeds deserve. But truly, this one has done nothing wrong.42And he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.43And Jesus said to him, "Amen I say to you, this day you shall be with me in Paradise.44Now it was nearly the sixth hour, and a darkness occurred over the entire earth, until the ninth hour45And the sun was obscured. And the veil of the temple was torn down the middle46And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said: "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." And upon saying this, he expired47Now, the centurion, seeing what had happened, glorified God, saying, "Truly, this man was the Just One.48And the entire crowd of those who came together to see this spectacle also saw what had happened, and they returned, striking their breasts49Now all those who knew him, and the women who had followed him from Galilee, were standing at a distance, watching these things
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound themes of humility, obedience, and the transformative power of love. In the first reading from Isaiah, we encounter the figure of the suffering servant, who, despite enduring trials and humiliations, remains steadfast in his trust in God. This servant does not turn away from his mission, even when faced with suffering, because he knows that God is his helper. This passage is a powerful prefiguration of Christ, who would later embody this same spirit of humility and obedience.
In the second reading from Philippians, St. Paul presents us with a hymn that captures the essence of Christ’s self-emptying love. Though equal to God, Jesus humbled himself, taking on the form of a servant and accepting death on the cross. This act of humility is not just a moment of weakness but a profound expression of divine love. Through his obedience, Christ is exalted, and his name becomes the source of salvation for all. This passage reminds us that true greatness is found in humility and self-giving love.
The Gospel narrative from Luke vividly portrays the culmination of Christ’s journey of humility and obedience. Jesus, standing before Pilate and Herod, remains silent in the face of false accusations, embodying the suffering servant of Isaiah. His silence is not a sign of weakness but of strength, as he fulfills his mission to save humanity. On the cross, Jesus’s prayer of forgiveness and his promise of paradise to the repentant thief reveal the depth of his love and mercy. These events call us to reflect on our own lives and to embrace the virtues of humility, forgiveness, and trust in God’s plan.
As we meditate on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we respond to trials and humiliations in our own lives? Do we turn away from God, or do we trust in his providence? Let us strive to imitate Christ’s humility and self-giving love, knowing that it is through these virtues that we find true strength and fulfillment. May we, like the repentant thief, turn to Jesus with faith and hope, trusting in his promise of eternal life.