Daily Readings - Wed Mar 13 2024
Isaiah
8Thus says the Lord: In a pleasing time, I have heeded you, and in the day of salvation, I have assisted you. And I have preserved you, and I have presented you as a covenant of the people, so that you would lift up the earth, and possess the scattered inheritances9so that you would say to those who are bound, "Go forth!" and to those who are in darkness, "Be released!" They will pasture along the roads, and their pastures will be in every open place10They will not hunger or thirst, nor will the heat of the sun beat down upon them. For the one who takes pity on them will rule them, and he will give them to drink from fountains of waters11And I will make all my mountains into a road, and my paths will be exalted12Behold, some will come from far away, and behold, others from the north and from the sea, and still others from the land of the south13Give praise, O heavens! And exult, O earth! Let the mountains give praise with jubilation! For the Lord has consoled his people, and he will take pity on his poor ones14And Zion said: "The Lord has abandoned me, and the Lord has forgotten me.15Can a woman forget her infant, so as not to take pity on the child of her womb? But even if she would forget, still I shall never forget you
John
16Because of this, the Jews were persecuting Jesus, for he was doing these things on the Sabbath17But Jesus answered them, "Even now, my Father is working, and I am working.18And so, because of this, the Jews were seeking to kill him even more so. For not only did he break the Sabbath, but he even said that God was his Father, making himself equal to God19Then Jesus responded and said to them: "Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son is not able to do anything of himself, but only what he has seen the Father doing. For whatever he does, even this does the Son do, similarly20For the Father loves the Son, and he shows him all that he himself does. And greater works than these will he show him, so much so that you shall wonder21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wills22For the Father does not judge anyone. But he has given all judgment to the Son23so that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son, does not honor the Father who sent him24Amen, amen, I say to you, that whoever hears my word, and believes in him who sent me, has eternal life, and he does not go into judgment, but instead he crosses from death into life25Amen, amen, I say to you, that the hour is coming, and it is now, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear it shall live26For just as the Father has life in himself, so also has he granted to the Son to have life in himself27And he has given him the authority to accomplish judgment. For he is the Son of man28Do not be amazed at this. For the hour is coming in which all who are in the grave shall hear the voice of the Son of God29And those who have done good shall go forth to the resurrection of life. Yet truly, those who have done evil shall go to the resurrection of judgment30I am not able to do anything of myself. As I hear, so do I judge. And my judgment is just. For I do not seek my own will, but the will of him who sent me
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful expressions of God’s love, hope, and the profound unity between the Father and the Son. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of God’s covenant with his people, offering comfort and restoration to those who are suffering. The prophet describes a time when the scattered and oppressed will be gathered, fed, and led to freedom, emphasizing God’s unwavering care for his people. Even when Zion feels abandoned, God assures her that his love is unshakable, comparing it to a mother’s love for her child—a love that endures even when human love may fail.
In the Gospel, Jesus responds to the Pharisees’ accusations by revealing the deep unity he shares with the Father. He explains that his works are not his own but reflect the Father’s will, and he emphasizes that the Father has entrusted him with the power to give life and judgment. Jesus makes it clear that his authority comes from the Father, and to honor the Son is to honor the Father. This passage reminds us that Jesus’ words and actions are not just those of a human teacher but of the divine Son, who brings life and light to all who believe in him.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on the nature of God’s love and the divine mission of Jesus. Isaiah reminds us that God’s love is always active, seeking to restore and renew his people, even in the darkest times. John’s Gospel calls us to recognize Jesus as the source of life and truth, and to trust in his union with the Father. In our daily lives, we are challenged to live with hope, trusting in God’s providence, and to honor Jesus as the one who brings us from death to life. May we, like the people in Isaiah’s vision, hear the voice of the Lord and follow him with faith, knowing that his love and care for us will never fail.