Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 2, 2022
First Reading: Jeremiah 11.18-20
18The LORD made it known to me and I knew; then you showed me their deeds.19But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me they devised schemes, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more."20But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.
Psalm 7
1O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,2lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.3O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands,4if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause,5let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah6Arise, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.7Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you; over it return on high.8The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.9Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous--you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!10My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.11God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.12If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;13he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.14Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies.15He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made.16His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.17I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.
Gospel: John 7.40-53
40When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This really is the Prophet."41Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee?42Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?"43So there was a division among the people over him.44Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.45The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?"46The officers answered, "No one ever spoke like this man!"47The Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived?48Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?49But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed."50Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them,51"Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?"52They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee." [The earliest manuscripts do not include John 7:53-8:11]53[[They went each to his own house,
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, judgment, and the courage to stand by our faith. The first reading from Jeremiah depicts the prophet's unwavering trust in God's justice amidst betrayal. Jeremiah, likening himself to a meek lamb led to slaughter, expresses his reliance on God's just judgment, even when faced with adversity from his own people. This passage underscores Jeremiah's deep faith and his acceptance of God's plan, despite the challenges he faces.
The Gospel from John presents a scene of division and judgment. Jesus' teachings spark debate among the crowd and the Pharisees, with some recognizing him as the Prophet or the Christ, while others question his origins. The Pharisees' dismissal of the crowd as ignorant and their refusal to consider Jesus' message highlight the theme of preconceived notions and closed-mindedness. Nicodemus's cautious defense of Jesus serves as a reminder to approach judgment with fairness and openness.
Both readings relate through the themes of opposition and trust in divine justice. Jeremiah's trust in God's justice is mirrored in Jesus' steadfast commitment to his mission, despite the discord he provokes. These narratives encourage us to remain faithful and courageous in the face of adversity, trusting that God's justice will prevail.
In our daily lives, we may encounter situations where standing up for what is right leads to opposition. Like Jeremiah and Jesus, we are called to trust in God's justice and not be swayed by fear or adversity. This is a call to steadfastness and faith, reminding us to seek truth and righteousness, even when it is challenging. Let us embrace this moral lesson, trusting in God's plan and standing courageously in our faith.