Daily Readings - Sun Mar 17 2024

³¹Behold, the days are approaching, says the Lord, when I will form a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah³²not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them by the hand, so as to lead them away from the land of Egypt, the covenant which they nullified, though I was the ruler over them, says the Lord³³But this will be the covenant that I will form with the house of Israel, after those days, says the Lord: I will give my law to their inner most being, and I will write it upon their heart. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people³⁴And they will no longer teach, a man his neighbor, and a man his brother, saying: ‘Know the Lord.’ For all will know me, from the littlest of them even to the greatest, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will no longer remember their sin

Hebrews

Chapter 5

⁷It is Christ who, in the days of his flesh, with a strong cry and tears, offered prayers and supplications to the One who was able to save him from death, and who was heard because of his reverence⁸And although, certainly, he is the Son of God, he learned obedience by the things that he suffered⁹And having reached his consummation, he was made, for all who are obedient to him, the cause of eternal salvation

John

Chapter 12

²⁰Now there were certain Gentiles among those who went up so that they might worship on the feast day²¹Therefore, these approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and they petitioned him, saying: "Sir, we want to see Jesus.²²Philip went and told Andrew. Next, Andrew and Philip told Jesus²³But Jesus answered them by saying: "The hour arrives when the Son of man shall be glorified²⁴Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies²⁵it remains alone. But if it dies, it yields much fruit. Whoever loves his life, will lose it. And whoever hates his life in this world, preserves it unto eternal life²⁶If anyone serves me, let him follow me. And where I am, there too my minister shall be. If anyone has served me, my Father will honor him²⁷Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say? Father, save me from this hour? But it is for this reason that I came to this hour²⁸Father, glorify your name!" And then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.²⁹Therefore, the crowd, which was standing near and had heard it, said that it was like thunder. Others were saying, "An Angel was speaking with him.³⁰Jesus responded and said: "This voice came, not for my sake, but for your sakes³¹Now is the judgment of the world. Now will the prince of this world be cast out³²And when I have been lifted up from the earth, I will draw all things to myself.³³(Now he said this, signifying what kind of death he would die.

Sermon

The readings today guide us through a journey of covenant, obedience, and sacrifice, each weaving together to reveal God's plan of salvation. Jeremiah's promise of a new covenant highlights a deepened relationship with God, where His law is inscribed on our hearts, leading to a universal knowledge of Him. This covenant, born out of the old one's limitations, signifies a restoration and a closer bond with God's people. In Hebrews, we see Jesus as the embodiment of this new covenant, whose obedience and suffering pave the way for our salvation. His prayers and tears illustrate His humanity and reverence, yet His divine role as the source of eternal salvation is clear. In John's Gospel, Jesus' conversation with the Gentiles and His subsequent discourse reveal the culmination of this covenant through His death. The grain of wheat metaphor teaches us that self-sacrifice is essential for bearing fruit, mirroring Jesus' own journey. His death, a necessary step in God's plan, draws all people to Himself, demonstrating that true life comes through surrender. The voice from heaven underscores God's glorification and the cosmic victory over evil, emphasizing the universal impact of Jesus' sacrifice. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to embrace a life of self-giving love and trust in God's plan. Just as Jesus trusted in His Father's will, we too can find purpose in our struggles. The new covenant calls us to live with God's law in our hearts, leading to actions that reflect His love. Let us remember that our challenges, like Jesus', can lead to greater good, drawing others to God. May we trust in His plan, knowing that through sacrifice, we find true life and honor from the Father.