Daily Readings - Wed Mar 17 2021
Isaiah
8Thus says the LORD: "In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages,9saying to the prisoners, 'Come out,' to those who are in darkness, 'Appear.' They shall feed along the ways; on all bare heights shall be their pasture;10they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them.11And I will make all my mountains a road, and my highways shall be raised up.12Behold, these shall come from afar, and behold, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Syene."13Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! for the LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.14But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me."15"Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.
John
16And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.17But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working."18This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.19So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.21For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.22The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,23that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.24Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.25"Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.26For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.27And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.28Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice29and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.30"I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s profound love and care for His people, as well as the divine authority and mission of Jesus Christ. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear the Lord’s promise of consolation and restoration to His people. Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a time when the scattered and suffering people of God will be gathered back, fed, and comforted. Zion, though feeling abandoned, is reminded that God’s love is far greater than any human love; even if a mother could forget her child, God will never forget His own. This passage speaks to the enduring faithfulness of God, who always remembers and cares for those who are His.
In the Gospel, Jesus defends His divine authority and mission. The Jews are angered because Jesus works on the Sabbath and claims a unique relationship with God the Father. Jesus explains that His works are not His own but are done in union with the Father. He emphasizes that the Father has entrusted Him with the power to give life and to judge. Jesus’ words challenge us to recognize His divine identity and to trust in His mission. He assures us that those who hear His word and believe in the Father will have eternal life, passing from death to life. This passage invites us to reflect on the profound truth of Jesus’ divinity and the eternal life He offers.
These readings remind us that our lives are rooted in God’s love and care. Just as Isaiah reassures Zion of God’s faithfulness, Jesus invites us to trust in His divine plan. In our daily lives, we are called to live with hope and confidence, knowing that God is always at work, even when we feel forgotten or uncertain. Let us strive to honor Jesus as the Son of God, to listen to His word, and to live in a way that reflects our faith. May we remember that our actions have eternal consequences and that we are called to live in a way that brings honor to God, who has given us life and salvation through His Son.