Daily Readings - Sun Apr 03 2022
Isaiah
16Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters,17who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:18"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.19Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.20The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people,21the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.
Philippians
8Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--10that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,11that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.12Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.13Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
John
1but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.2Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.3The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst4they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.5Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?"6This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.7And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."8And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.9But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.10Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"11She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."]]
Sermon
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the themes of redemption, mercy, and the pursuit of holiness. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear the prophet’s assurance that God is always doing something new, even in the midst of our failures and shortcomings. The image of making a way in the desert and bringing life to barren places reminds us that God’s mercy and creativity are boundless. This passage, spoken to the Israelites in exile, encourages them—and us—to trust in God’s promise of redemption and to look forward with hope, rather than dwelling on past mistakes.
The second reading from Philippians deepens this theme as St. Paul shares his own spiritual journey. He confesses that all his accomplishments are worthless compared to the knowledge of Christ. Paul’s focus is not on his past achievements or failures but on pressing forward toward the goal of union with Christ. He reminds us that true holiness is not about self-justification but about trusting in God’s grace and sharing in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. This reading challenges us to re-examine our priorities and to seek a deeper relationship with Christ above all else.
In the Gospel, Jesus’ encounter with the woman caught in adultery offers a powerful example of mercy and compassion. While the law and the Pharisees sought to condemn, Jesus chose to forgive and to invite the woman to a new way of life. His words, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone,” remind us that we are all in need of God’s mercy. This story calls us to reflect on our own judgmental tendencies and to imitate Christ’s compassion in our interactions with others.
These readings, when taken together, offer a profound spiritual reflection: God is always doing something new in our lives, but we must be open to receiving His mercy and grace. Like Paul, we are called to press forward, leaving behind the burdens of our past and trusting in God’s plan for us. And like Jesus, we are challenged to extend mercy and compassion to others, recognizing that we are all sinners in need of forgiveness. May we, like the woman in the Gospel, hear Jesus’ words of pardon and go forth to live lives marked by love, humility, and gratitude.