Daily Readings - Sun Feb 25 2024

¹After these things occurred, God tested Abraham, and he said to him, "Abraham, Abraham." And he answered, "Here I am.²He said to him: "Take your only begotten son Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of vision. And there you shall offer him as a holocaust upon one of the mountains, which I will show to you.⁹And they came to the place that God had shown to him. There he built an altar, and he set the wood in order upon it. And when he had bound his son Isaac, he laid him on the altar upon the pile of wood¹⁰And he reached out his hand and took hold of the sword, in order to sacrifice his son¹¹And behold, an Angel of the Lord called out from heaven, saying, "Abraham, Abraham." And he answered, "Here I am.¹²And he said to him, "Do not extend your hand over the boy, and do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, since you have not spared your only begotten son for my sake.¹³Abraham lifted up his eyes, and he saw behind his back a ram among the thorns, caught by the horns, which he took and offered as a holocaust, instead of his son¹⁵Then the Angel of the Lord called out to Abraham a second time from heaven, saying¹⁶"By my own self, I have sworn, says the Lord. Because you have done this thing, and have not spared your only begotten son for my sake¹⁷I will bless you, and I will multiply your offspring like the stars of heaven, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gates of their enemies¹⁸And in your offspring, all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you obeyed my voice.

Romans

Chapter 8

³¹So, what should we say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us³²He who did not spare even his own Son, but handed him over for the sake of us all, how could he not also, with him, have given us all things³³Who will make an accusation against the elect of God? God is the One who justifies³⁴who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus who has died, and who has indeed also risen again, is at the right hand of God, and even now he intercedes for us³⁵Then who will separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulation? Or anguish? Or famine? Or nakedness? Or peril? Or persecution? Or the sword³⁷But in all these things we overcome, because of him who has loved us

Mark

Chapter 9

²And after six days, Jesus took with him Peter, and James, and John; and he led them separately to a lofty mountain alone; and he was transfigured before them³And his vestments became radiant and exceedingly white like snow, with such a brilliance as no fuller on earth is able to achieve⁴And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses; and they were speaking with Jesus⁵And in response, Peter said to Jesus: "Master, it is good for us to be here. And so let us make three tabernacles, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.⁶For he did not know what he was saying. For they were overwhelmed by fear⁷And there was a cloud overshadowing them. And a voice came from the cloud, saying: "This is my most beloved Son. Listen to him.⁸And immediately, looking around, they no longer saw anyone, except Jesus alone with them⁹And as they were descending from the mountain, he instructed them not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until after the Son of man will have risen again from the dead¹⁰And they kept the word to themselves, arguing about what "after he will have risen from the dead" might mean

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter profound lessons about faith, trust, and divine revelation. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Abraham and Isaac, a seminal test of faith where Abraham's unwavering obedience to God is rewarded. This narrative underscores the theme of trust in God's plan, even when circumstances seem insurmountable. The second reading from Romans, written by Paul, reassures us of God's unwavering support, emphasizing that if God is for us, no adversity can prevail against us. This passage highlights the triumph of Christ's love and the strength it provides believers. The Gospel from Mark describes the Transfiguration, a moment where Jesus' divine glory is revealed to Peter, James, and John, reinforcing their faith and preparing them for the challenges ahead. These readings are intricately connected, each illuminating aspects of faith and trust. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac exemplifies the faith that underpins Christian belief, while Paul's words in Romans elaborate on the assurance and support believers receive from God. The Transfiguration in Mark serves as a visual affirmation of Jesus' divine nature, urging the disciples—and us—to listen to and follow Him. Together, they remind us that faith is not passive but active, requiring us to trust and obey God's will, even when it's challenging. Applying these lessons to our daily lives, we are encouraged to trust God in all circumstances, just as Abraham did. The Romans passage reminds us to lean on God's love and support during trials, knowing that Christ's intercession strengthens us. The Transfiguration invites us to focus on Jesus, seeking His guidance and comfort, especially in difficult times. The moral lesson here is clear: faith and trust in God lead to strength and understanding of His plan. Just as Abraham and the disciples found sustenance in their faith, we too can find comfort and guidance by trusting in God and heeding His Word. Let us embrace this faith, allowing it to transform our lives and deepen our relationship with Him.