Daily Readings - Sat Apr 08 2023

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

Romans

Chapter 6

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

Matthew

Chapter 28

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.