Daily Readings - Tue Mar 30 2021
Isaiah
1Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.2He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away.3And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified."4But I said, "I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God."5And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him--for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength--6he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
John
21After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me."22The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke.23One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table close to Jesus,24so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.25So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, "Lord, who is it?"26Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.27Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."28Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him.29Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor.30So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.31When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.32If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.33Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come.'36Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward."37Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."38Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the mystery of God’s plan and the human response to it. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear the voice of the servant of the Lord, who expresses both frustration and trust. Despite feeling that his efforts have been in vain, he clings to the assurance that his judgment and work are in God’s hands. This servant is not just an individual but a symbol of Israel’s mission to bring light to the nations. The passage reminds us that our struggles and doubts are not signs of failure but opportunities to deepen our trust in God’s providence.
In the Gospel, we witness the dramatic moment of Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial. Jesus, aware of what is about to unfold, remains calm and steadfast, even as he shares a final meal with his disciples. This scene highlights the tension between love and betrayal, faith and failure. Peter’s bold declaration to lay down his life for Jesus contrasts sharply with his later denial, revealing the fragility of human resolve. Yet, even in the midst of betrayal and denial, Jesus speaks of glorification—his own and that of the Father. This paradox underscores the deeper truth that God’s glory is often revealed in the darkest moments.
These readings call us to embrace the mystery of faith in our own lives. Like the servant in Isaiah, we may feel that our efforts are unnoticed or ineffective, but we are reminded that our work is in God’s hands. Like Peter, we may stumble and fail, but God’s plan is not derailed by our weaknesses. The key is to trust in God’s timing and purposes, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. Let us strive to remain faithful, knowing that our struggles and imperfections are part of the larger story of God’s redemption. In the end, it is not our strength but God’s grace that will bring light to the world.