Daily Readings - Fri Mar 22 2024
Jeremiah
7O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me.10For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! "Denounce him! Let us denounce him!" say all my close friends, watching for my fall. "Perhaps he will be deceived; then we can overcome him and take our revenge on him."11But the LORD is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten.12O LORD of hosts, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.13Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers.
John
31The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.32Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?"33The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God."34Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'?35If he called them gods to whom the word of God came--and Scripture cannot be broken--36do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?37If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me;38but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."39Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.40He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained.41And many came to him. And they said, "John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true."42And many believed in him there.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the divine presence in our lives. The first reading from Jeremiah portrays the prophet in a moment of profound struggle, expressing his persecution and mockery by others. Despite his distress, Jeremiah's trust in God remains unwavering, as he seeks deliverance and vengeance, ultimately praising God for His liberation of the oppressed. This passage underscores the prophet's unshakable faith amidst adversity.
The Gospel from John presents Jesus facing accusations of blasphemy, as the Jews stone Him for claiming to be the Son of God. Jesus defends His divine nature by referencing Scripture and the works He performs through His Father, urging His accusers to believe in the works if they doubt His words. Narrowly escaping apprehension, Jesus retreats to the Jordan, where many come to believe in Him, affirming the truth of John the Baptist's testimony. This narrative highlights Jesus' divine identity and the transformative power of His works.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own trust in God during challenging times. Like Jeremiah, we may face persecution or mockery, yet we are called to remain steadfast in our faith, trusting in God's deliverance. Similarly, Jesus' encounter reminds us to recognize His divine presence through His teachings and miracles. In our daily lives, we are challenged to stand firm in our faith, even when faced with opposition, and to open our hearts to the divine works around us. Let us embrace the lessons of trust and faith, allowing God's presence to guide and transform us.