Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 8, 2023
First Reading: Genesis 1.1, 26-31a
1In the beginning, God created heaven and earth26And he said: "Let us make Man to our image and likeness. And let him rule over the fish of the sea, and the flying creatures of the air, and the wild beasts, and the entire earth, and every animal that moves on the earth.27And God created man to his own image; to the image of God he created him; male and female, he created them28And God blessed them, and he said, "Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and the flying creatures of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.29And God said: "Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant upon the earth, and all the trees that have in themselves the ability to sow their own kind, to be food for you30and for all the animals of the land, and for all the flying things of the air, and for everything that moves upon the earth and in which there is a living soul, so that they may have these on which to feed." And so it became31And God saw everything that he had made. And they were very good. And it became evening and morning, the sixth day
Psalm 104
1To David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are exceedingly great. You have clothed yourself with confession and beauty2you are dressed with light like a garment, while you stretch out heaven like a tent3You cover its heights with water. You set the clouds as your stairs. You walk upon the wings of the winds4You make your Angels a breath of life, and your ministers a burning fire5You founded the earth upon its stable base. It will not be bent from age to age6The abyss, like a garment, is its clothing. The waters will remain standing above the mountains7At your rebuke, they will flee. At the voice of your thunder, they will dread8The mountains ascend, and the plains descend, to the place which you have founded for them9You have set a limit that they will not cross. And they will not return to cover the earth10You spring forth fountains in steep valleys. The waters will cross through the midst of the mountains11All the wild beasts of the field will drink. The wild donkeys will anticipate in their thirst12Above them, the flying things of the air will dwell. From the midst of the rocks, they will utter voices13You irrigate the mountains from your heights. The earth will be satiated from the fruit of your works14producing grass for cattle and herbs for the service of men. So may you draw bread from the earth15and wine, in order to cheer the heart of man. Then he may gladden his face with oil, and bread will confirm the heart of man16The trees of the field will be saturated, along with the cedars of Lebanon, which he planted17There, the sparrows will make their nests. The leader of them is the house of the heron18The heights of the hills are for the deer; the rock is a refuge for the hedgehog19He has made the moon for seasons; the sun knows its setting20You appointed darkness, and it has become night; all the beasts of the forest will cross through it21The young lions will roar, while searching for and seizing their meal from God22The sun arose, and they were gathered together; and in their dens, they will lie down together23Man will go forth to his work and to his activities, until the evening24How great are your works, O Lord! You have made all things in wisdom. The earth has been filled with your possessions25This sea is great and its hands are spacious. There are creeping things without number: the small animals with the great26There, the ships will pass by this sea-serpent that you have formed to mock them27All these expect you to give them food in due time28What you give to them, they will gather. When you open your hand, they will all be filled with goodness29But if you turn your face away, they will be disturbed. You will take away their breath, and they will fail, and they will return to their dust30You will send forth your Spirit, and they will be created. And you will renew the face of the earth31May the glory of the Lord be for all ages. The Lord will rejoice in his works32He considers the earth, and he makes it tremble. He touches the mountains, and they smoke33I will sing to the Lord with my life. I will sing psalms to my God, as long as I am34May my speech be pleasing to him. Truly, I will take delight in the Lord35Let sinners fade away from the earth, along with the unjust, so that they may not be. Bless the Lord, O my soul
Second Reading: Romans 6.3-11
3Do you not know that those of us who have been baptized in Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death4For through baptism we have been buried with him into death, so that, in the manner that Christ rose from the dead, by the glory of the Father, so may we also walk in the newness of life5For if we have been planted together, in the likeness of his death, so shall we also be, in the likeness of his resurrection6For we know this: that our former selves have been crucified together with him, so that the body which is of sin may be destroyed, and moreover, so that we may no longer serve sin7For he who has died has been justified from sin8Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live together with Christ9For we know that Christ, in rising up from the dead, can no longer die: death no longer has dominion over him10For in as much as he died for sin, he died once. But in as much as he lives, he lives for God11And so, you should consider yourselves to be certainly dead to sin, and to be living for God in Christ Jesus our Lord
Gospel: Matthew 28.1-10
1Now on the morning of the Sabbath, when it began to grow light on the first Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulcher2And behold, a great earthquake occurred. For an Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and as he approached, he rolled back the stone and sat down on it3Now his appearance was like lightning, and his vestment was like snow4Then, out of fear of him, the guards were terrified, and they became like dead men5Then the Angel responded by saying to the women: "Do not be afraid. For I know that you are seeking Jesus, who was crucified6He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where the Lord was placed7And then, go quickly, and tell his disciples that he has risen. And behold, he will precede you to Galilee. There you shall see him. Lo, I have told you beforehand.8And they went out of the tomb quickly, with fear and in great joy, running to announce it to his disciples9And behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Hail." But they drew near and took hold of his feet, and they adored him10Then Jesus said to them: "Do not be afraid. Go, announce it to my brothers, so that they may go to Galilee. There they shall see me.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through creation, transformation, and resurrection, each offering a profound message about our purpose and identity in God's plan.
The first reading from Genesis reminds us that we are created in God's image, entrusted with dominion over the earth. This passage establishes our role as stewards of creation, highlighting the dignity and responsibility inherent in being human. It sets the stage for understanding our place within God's grand narrative.
The second reading from Romans shifts our focus to transformation through Christ. Baptism unites us with Christ's death and resurrection, signifying the end of our old selves and the beginning of a new life in Him. This transformation calls us to live beyond sin, embracing a life of purpose and service rooted in our union with Christ.
The Gospel from Matthew culminates in the resurrection of Jesus, a pivotal moment that redefines our mission. The empty tomb and Christ's appearance to the women illustrate the triumph over death, offering us hope and a renewed purpose. We are called to spread this Good News, just as the women were, embodying the joy and courage that comes from encountering the risen Christ.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to embrace our identity as children of God, transformed by Christ's resurrection. We are called to steward creation with love, live a life of moral integrity, and share the hope of the Gospel with others. Let us approach each day with the courage and joy that flows from the resurrection, living as witnesses to the transformative power of Christ.