Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 12, 2018
First Reading: Isaiah 65.17-21
17"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.18But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.19I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.20No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.21They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
Psalm 30
1I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me.2O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.3O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.4Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.5For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.6As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved."7By your favor, O LORD, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed.8To you, O LORD, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy:9"What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?10Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me! O LORD, be my helper!"11You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,12that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
Gospel: John 4.43-54
43After the two days he departed for Galilee.44(For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.)45So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.46So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill.47When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.48So Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe."49The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies."50Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.51As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.52So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."53The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." And he himself believed, and all his household.54This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope, faith, and trust in God's plan. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a future where sorrow and pain are erased, replaced by joy and eternal life. This vision is a beacon of hope for the Israelites, promising a utopian future after their trials. The Gospel from John tells the story of a royal official who, desperate for his son's healing, trusts in Jesus' word despite the distance and uncertainty. This miracle not only showcases Jesus' divine authority but also highlights the transformative power of faith.
Both readings beautifully intertwine, emphasizing the theme of trust in God's promises. Isaiah's vision calls us to trust in God's future plan, even when our current circumstances are challenging. Similarly, the royal official's story illustrates the immediate rewards of trusting Jesus' word, even when faced with doubt. These narratives remind us that faith is not about seeing immediate results but about believing in God's goodness and timing.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to embrace hope and trust. When we face difficulties, we can find comfort in knowing that God is weaving a greater plan. Like the royal official, we are called to trust God's word, even when the outcome is uncertain. Let us hold onto this hope and faith, allowing them to guide us through life's challenges, knowing that God's promises are always for our good. The moral lesson here is clear: faith and trust in God's plan lead us to experience His grace and salvation.