Daily Readings - Mon Apr 14 2025
Isaiah
1Behold my servant, I will uphold him, my elect, with him my soul is well-pleased. I have sent my Spirit upon him. He will offer judgment to the nations2He will not cry out, and he will not show favoritism to anyone; neither will his voice be heard abroad3The bruised reed he will not break, and the smoldering wick he will not extinguish. He will lead forth judgment unto truth4He will not be saddened or troubled, until he establishes judgment on earth. And the islands will await his law5Thus says the Lord God, who created the heavens and expanded it, who formed the earth and all that springs from it, who gives breath to the people in it, and spirit to those walking on it6I, the Lord, have called you in justice, and I have taken your hand and preserved you. And I have presented you as a covenant of the people, as a light to the Gentiles7so that you may open the eyes of the blind, and lead out the prisoner from confinement and those sitting in darkness from the house of incarceration
John
1Then six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethania, where Lazarus had died, whom Jesus raised up2And they made a dinner for him there. And Martha was ministering. And truly, Lazarus was one of those who were sitting at table with him3And then Mary took twelve ounces of pure spikenard ointment, very precious, and she anointed the feet of Jesus, and she wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment4Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was soon to betray him, said5"Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the needy?6Now he said this, not out of concern for the needy, but because he was a thief and, since he held the purse, he used to carry what was put into it7But Jesus said: "Permit her, so that she may keep it against the day of my burial8For the poor, you have with you always. But me, you do always not have.9Now a great multitude of the Jews knew that he was in that place, and so they came, not so much because of Jesus, but so that they might see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead10And the leaders of the priests planned to put Lazarus to death also11For many of the Jews, because of him, were going away and were believing in Jesus
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful images of hope, justice, and selfless love. The first reading from Isaiah presents us with a vision of God’s servant, a figure of humility and compassion, who is called to bring light to the nations and freedom to those in darkness. This servant is not one who shouts or breaks the fragile; instead, he gently leads with justice and truth. The passage reminds us that God’s work is often quiet, persistent, and rooted in mercy, even in the face of great challenges.
The Gospel reading from John shifts our focus to a moment of intimate love and controversy. Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with costly ointment, an act of extravagant devotion that fills the room with its fragrance. While Judas criticizes her for what he sees as wastefulness, Jesus defends her, pointing to the deeper truth: her actions are a preparation for his burial, a sign of love in the face of death. This moment teaches us that true love is not measured by practicality but by the depth of the heart. It also reminds us that the poor will always be among us, but Jesus—our Lord and Savior—will not always be physically present. Therefore, we must cherish every opportunity to honor him and serve others in his name.
These readings call us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. Like Isaiah’s servant, we are called to be instruments of justice and light, even in small, quiet ways. Like Mary, we are invited to offer our lives, talents, and resources as acts of love and worship, trusting that God will use them for his purposes. In a world often driven by noise and efficiency, these readings remind us of the beauty of humility, compassion, and selfless love. May we strive to embody these qualities, knowing that they are the very heart of God’s kingdom.