Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 5, 2019
First Reading: Wisdom 2.1a, 12-22
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Psalm 34
1I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.2My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.3Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!4I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.5Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.8Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!9Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!10The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.11Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.12What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?13Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.14Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.15The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.16The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.17When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.19Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.20He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.21Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.22The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Gospel: John 7.1-2, 10, 25-30
1After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.2Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand.10But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private.25Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, "Is not this the man whom they seek to kill?26And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ?27But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from."28So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, "You know me, and you know where I come from? But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know.29I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me."30So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of righteousness, faith, and trust in God’s plan. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom describes the wicked plotting against the just man, questioning his claims of closeness to God and resolving to test him through suffering and death. The second reading from John’s Gospel shows Jesus continuing his mission despite the growing threat against his life, teaching openly in the temple and affirming his divine origin. Both readings highlight the tension between those who walk in the light of truth and those who are blinded by malice and unbelief.
The context of these readings is deeply rooted in the struggle between good and evil. In Wisdom, the just man represents the persecuted righteous, whose very existence challenges the wicked to confront their own sinfulness. Similarly, in John’s Gospel, Jesus embodies the truth of God’s love and justice, which provokes both admiration and hostility. The readings remind us that living a life of integrity and faith often invites opposition, as it challenges others to confront their own shortcomings. Yet, both the just man and Jesus trust in God’s providence, knowing that their ultimate vindication lies not in human approval but in God’s plan.
These readings call us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. Like the just man in Wisdom, we are called to stand firm in our commitment to God, even when it means facing ridicule or adversity. Like Jesus, we are invited to trust in God’s timing and purposes, even when the path ahead seems uncertain or fraught with danger. The moral lesson here is clear: true wisdom and strength come not from avoiding challenges but from embracing them with faith, knowing that God is always at work, even in the darkest moments. Let us strive to live with such courage and trust, allowing the light of God’s truth to guide us through the trials of our own lives.