Daily Readings - Wed Mar 13 2024
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
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful expressions of God’s love, hope, and the profound unity between the Father and the Son. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of God’s covenant with his people, offering comfort and restoration to those who are suffering. The prophet describes a time when the scattered and oppressed will be gathered, fed, and led to freedom, emphasizing God’s unwavering care for his people. Even when Zion feels abandoned, God assures her that his love is unshakable, comparing it to a mother’s love for her child—a love that endures even when human love may fail.
In the Gospel, Jesus responds to the Pharisees’ accusations by revealing the deep unity he shares with the Father. He explains that his works are not his own but reflect the Father’s will, and he emphasizes that the Father has entrusted him with the power to give life and judgment. Jesus makes it clear that his authority comes from the Father, and to honor the Son is to honor the Father. This passage reminds us that Jesus’ words and actions are not just those of a human teacher but of the divine Son, who brings life and light to all who believe in him.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on the nature of God’s love and the divine mission of Jesus. Isaiah reminds us that God’s love is always active, seeking to restore and renew his people, even in the darkest times. John’s Gospel calls us to recognize Jesus as the source of life and truth, and to trust in his union with the Father. In our daily lives, we are challenged to live with hope, trusting in God’s providence, and to honor Jesus as the one who brings us from death to life. May we, like the people in Isaiah’s vision, hear the voice of the Lord and follow him with faith, knowing that his love and care for us will never fail.