Daily Readings - Sun Apr 13 2025

⁴The Lord has given me a learned tongue, so that I would know how to uphold with a word, one who has weakened. He rises in the morning, he rises to my ear in the morning, so that I may heed him like a teacher⁵The Lord God has opened my ear. And I do not contradict him. I have not turned back⁶I have given my body to those who strike me, and my cheeks to those who plucked them. I have not averted my face from those who rebuked me and who spit on me⁷The Lord God is my helper. Therefore, I have not been confounded. Therefore, I have set my face like a very hard rock, and I know that I will not be confounded

Philippians

Chapter 2

⁶who, though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be seized⁷Instead, he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and accepting the state of a man⁸He humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, even the death of the Cross⁹Because of this, God has also exalted him and has given him a name which is above every name¹⁰so that, at the name of Jesus, every knee would bend, of those in heaven, of those on earth, and of those in hell¹¹and so that every tongue would confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father

Luke

Chapter 23

¹And the entire multitude of them, rising up, led him to Pilate²Then they began to accuse him, saying, "We found this one subverting our nation, and prohibiting giving tribute to Caesar, and saying that he is Christ the king.³And Pilate questioned him, saying: "You are the king of the Jews?" But in response, he said: "You are saying it.⁴Then Pilate said to the leaders of the priests and to the crowds, "I find no case against this man.⁵But they continued more intensely, saying: "He has stirred up the people, teaching throughout all of Judea, beginning from Galilee, even to this place.⁶But Pilate, upon hearing Galilee, asked if the man were of Galilee⁷And when he realized that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him away to Herod, who was himself also at Jerusalem in those days⁸Then Herod, upon seeing Jesus, was very glad. For he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard so many things about him, and he was hoping to see some kind of sign wrought by him⁹Then he questioned him with many words. But he gave him no response at all¹⁰And the leaders of the priests, and the scribes, stood firm in persistently accusing him¹¹Then Herod, with his soldiers, scorned him. And he ridiculed him, clothing him in a white garment. And he sent him back to Pilate¹²And Herod and Pilate became friends on that day. For previously they were enemies to one another¹³And Pilate, calling together the leaders of the priests, and the magistrates, and the people¹⁴said to them: "You have brought before me this man, as one who disturbs the people. And behold, having questioned him before you, I find no case against this man, in those things about which you accuse him¹⁵And neither did Herod. For I sent you all to him, and behold, nothing deserving of death was recorded about him¹⁶Therefore, I will chastise him and release him.¹⁷Now he was required to release one person for them on the feast day¹⁸But the entire crowd exclaimed together, saying: "Take this one, and release to us Barabbas!¹⁹Now he had been cast into prison because of a certain sedition that occurred in the city and for murder²⁰Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus²¹But they shouted in response, saying: "Crucify him! Crucify him!²²Then he said to them a third time: "Why? What evil has he done? I find no case against him for death. Therefore, I will chastise him and release him.²³But they persisted, with loud voices, in demanding that he be crucified. And their voices increased in intensity²⁴And so Pilate issued a judgment granting their petition²⁵Then he released for them the one who had been cast into prison for murder and sedition, whom they were requesting. Yet truly, Jesus he handed over to their will²⁶And as they were leading him away, they apprehended a certain one, Simon of Cyrene, as he was returning from the countryside. And they imposed the cross on him to carry after Jesus²⁷Then a great crowd of people followed him, with women who were mourning and lamenting him²⁸But Jesus, turning to them, said: "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep over me. Instead, weep over yourselves and over your children²⁹For behold, the days will arrive in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the breasts that have not nursed.³⁰Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall over us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.³¹For if they do these things with green wood, what will be done with the dry?³²Now they also led out two other criminals with him, in order to execute them³³And when they arrived at the place that is called Calvary, they crucified him there, with the robbers, one to the right and the other to the left³⁴Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do." And truly, dividing his garments, they cast lots³⁵And people were standing near, watching. And the leaders among them derided him, saying: "He saved others. Let him save himself, if this one is the Christ, the elect of God.³⁶And the soldiers also ridiculed him, approaching him and offering him vinegar³⁷and saying, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.³⁸Now there was also an inscription written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS³⁹And one of those robbers who were hanging blasphemed him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.⁴⁰But the other responded by rebuking him, saying: "Do you have no fear of God, since you are under the same condemnation⁴¹And indeed, it is just for us. For we are receiving what our deeds deserve. But truly, this one has done nothing wrong.⁴²And he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.⁴³And Jesus said to him, "Amen I say to you, this day you shall be with me in Paradise.⁴⁴Now it was nearly the sixth hour, and a darkness occurred over the entire earth, until the ninth hour⁴⁵And the sun was obscured. And the veil of the temple was torn down the middle⁴⁶And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said: "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." And upon saying this, he expired⁴⁷Now, the centurion, seeing what had happened, glorified God, saying, "Truly, this man was the Just One.⁴⁸And the entire crowd of those who came together to see this spectacle also saw what had happened, and they returned, striking their breasts⁴⁹Now all those who knew him, and the women who had followed him from Galilee, were standing at a distance, watching these things

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter profound reflections on humility, suffering, and the ultimate triumph of God’s plan. The first reading from Isaiah presents the figure of the Suffering Servant, who endures persecution and humiliation with unwavering trust in God. Despite being struck and reviled, the Servant does not turn away, for he knows that God is his helper. This passage, written centuries before Christ, foreshadows the Passion of Jesus, highlighting the deep connection between suffering and redemption. The second reading from Philippians offers a theological reflection on the humility of Christ. Paul describes how Jesus, though divine, emptied himself and took on human form, becoming obedient even to death on the Cross. This act of self-emptying love is not just a gesture of humility but a revelation of God’s nature. Through his obedience, Jesus is exalted, and every knee shall bend at the name of Jesus. This passage reminds us that true greatness lies in humility and surrender to God’s will. In the Gospel, Luke’s account of the Passion vividly portrays Jesus’ silence, forgiveness, and trust in the Father amidst immense suffering. From the false accusations before Pilate to the mockery on the Cross, Jesus remains steadfast in his mission. His words, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” reveal the depth of his mercy. Even in death, Jesus offers hope to the repentant thief, promising paradise. This narrative invites us to reflect on how we respond to suffering and injustice in our own lives. These readings call us to embrace humility and trust in God’s plan, even when it leads us through trials. Like the Suffering Servant and Christ himself, we are invited to endure hardships with patience and faith, knowing that God’s glory will ultimately be revealed. In our daily lives, we are challenged to imitate Jesus’ forgiveness and mercy, even in the face of adversity. Let us ask for the grace to follow in his footsteps, trusting that our struggles, like his, will lead to resurrection and new life.