Daily Readings - Sun Apr 14 2019

⁴The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.⁵The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward.⁶I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.⁷But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.

Philippians

Chapter 2

⁶who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,⁷but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.⁸And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.⁹Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Luke

Chapter 22

⁶⁶When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said,⁶⁷"If you are the Christ, tell us." But he said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe,⁶⁸and if I ask you, you will not answer.⁶⁹But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God."⁷⁰So they all said, "Are you the Son of God, then?" And he said to them, "You say that I am."⁷¹Then they said, "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips."

Chapter 23

¹Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate.²And they began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king."³And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You have said so."⁴Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no guilt in this man."⁵But they were urgent, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place."⁶When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.⁷And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.⁸When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.⁹So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer.¹⁰The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.¹¹And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.¹²And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.¹³Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,¹⁴and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him.¹⁵Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him.¹⁶I will therefore punish and release him."¹⁷See Footnote¹⁸But they all cried out together, "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas"--¹⁹a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder.²⁰Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus,²¹but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!"²²A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him."²³But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed.²⁴So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.²⁵He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.²⁶And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.²⁷And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.²⁸But turning to them Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.²⁹For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!'³⁰Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.'³¹For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"³²Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.³³And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.³⁴And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.³⁵And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!"³⁶The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine³⁷and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"³⁸There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."³⁹One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!"⁴⁰But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?⁴¹And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."⁴²And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."⁴³And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."⁴⁴It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,⁴⁵while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.⁴⁶Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.⁴⁷Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!"⁴⁸And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.⁴⁹And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter profound reflections on humility, trust, and redemption. The prophet Isaiah portrays a figure who, despite suffering, remains faithful and trusting in God’s plan. This figure, often seen as a prefiguration of Christ, embodies resilience and devotion, unwilling to waver even in the face of adversity. In Philippians, we hear of Christ’s humility, who, though divine, emptied Himself to serve humanity, ultimately exalted by God. This hymn highlights the paradox of humility leading to glory. The Gospel from Luke narrates Jesus’s Passion, where He endures betrayal, trial, and crucifixion, yet forgives and offers salvation, exemplifying His mission of love and redemption. These readings intertwine to reveal the essence of Jesus’s mission: love, humility, and trust in God. Isaiah’s suffering servant and Christ’s humility in Philippians both point to the same truth—that true strength lies in surrender and trust. Luke’s account shows Jesus living this truth, even in His darkest hour, demonstrating that love conquers all, even death. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to embrace humility and trust. In times of struggle, we can draw strength from Christ’s example, trusting in God’s plan. We are called to live with compassion and forgiveness, just as Jesus did on the cross. The moral lesson is clear: true power and redemption emerge from humility and love, not from dominance or resistance. Let us strive to live this truth, trusting in God’s providence and serving others with love.