Daily Readings - Sun Feb 28 2021

¹After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."²He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."⁹When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.¹⁰Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.¹¹But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."¹²He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."¹³And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.¹⁵And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven¹⁶and said, "By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,¹⁷I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies,¹⁸and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice."

Romans

Chapter 8

³¹What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?³²He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?³³Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.³⁴Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Mark

Chapter 9

²And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,³and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.⁴And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.⁵And Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."⁶For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.⁷And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him."⁸And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.⁹And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.¹⁰So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound themes of faith, trust, and the divine plan. In the first reading, we encounter Abraham, a man of deep faith, who is tested by God in a most dramatic way. Asked to sacrifice his only son Isaac, Abraham’s unwavering trust in God’s promise is put to the ultimate test. His willingness to obey, even in the face of such a heart-wrenching command, reveals the depth of his faith. This story is not just about Abraham’s obedience but also about God’s faithfulness. At the last moment, God intervenes, sparing Isaac and providing a ram as a substitute. This act underscores God’s mercy and His desire to provide, even in the most trying circumstances. In the second reading from Romans, St. Paul reminds us of the boundless love of God. He asks rhetorically, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” This question is rooted in the ultimate expression of God’s love—the sacrifice of His own Son for the sake of humanity. Paul reassures us that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, not even the trials and tribulations of this life. This passage invites us to place our trust in God’s providence, knowing that He who gave us His Son will surely provide us with all that we need. The Gospel brings us to the mountaintop where Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John. In this moment, the divine glory of Jesus is revealed, and the disciples are given a glimpse of the eternal reality that lies beyond the cross. The voice of the Father echoes from the cloud, affirming Jesus as His beloved Son and commanding the disciples to listen to Him. This scene is a powerful reminder of the importance of trusting in God’s plan, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. Just as the disciples were strengthened by this vision, we too are called to fix our eyes on Christ and to trust in His guidance. These readings, when taken together, invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God. Like Abraham, we are called to trust in God’s promises, even when the road ahead is unclear. Like the disciples on the mountaintop, we are invited to listen to Jesus and to place our faith in His words. And like St. Paul, we are reminded that nothing can separate us from the love of God. As we navigate the challenges of our daily lives, let us draw strength from these readings. May we trust in God’s faithfulness, listen to His voice, and remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that He is always with us.