Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 13, 2025
First Reading: Isaiah 50.4-7
4The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.5The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward.6I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.7But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
Psalm 22
1My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?2O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.3Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.4In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.5To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.6But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.7All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;8"He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!"9Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts.10On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God.11Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.12Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me;13they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.14I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast;15my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.16For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet--17I can count all my bones--they stare and gloat over me;18they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.19But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!20Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog!21Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!22I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:23You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!24For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.25From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him.26The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever!27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.28For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.29All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.30Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;31they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.
Second Reading: Philippians 2.6-11
6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,7but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Gospel: Luke 23.1-49
1Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate.2And they began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king."3And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You have said so."4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no guilt in this man."5But they were urgent, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place."6When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.7And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.9So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer.10The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.11And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.12And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.13Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,14and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him.15Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him.16I will therefore punish and release him."17See Footnote18But they all cried out together, "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas"--19a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder.20Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus,21but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!"22A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him."23But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed.24So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.25He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.26And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.27And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.28But turning to them Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.29For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!'30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.'31For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"32Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.33And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.34And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.35And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!"36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine37and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"38There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."39One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!"40But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?41And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."42And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."43And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."44It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,45while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.46Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.47Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!"48And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.49And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound reflections on humility, suffering, and the ultimate triumph of God’s plan. The first reading from Isaiah presents the figure of the Suffering Servant, who endures persecution and humiliation with unwavering trust in God. Despite being struck and reviled, the Servant does not turn away, for he knows that God is his helper. This passage, written centuries before Christ, foreshadows the Passion of Jesus, highlighting the deep connection between suffering and redemption.
The second reading from Philippians offers a theological reflection on the humility of Christ. Paul describes how Jesus, though divine, emptied himself and took on human form, becoming obedient even to death on the Cross. This act of self-emptying love is not just a gesture of humility but a revelation of God’s nature. Through his obedience, Jesus is exalted, and every knee shall bend at the name of Jesus. This passage reminds us that true greatness lies in humility and surrender to God’s will.
In the Gospel, Luke’s account of the Passion vividly portrays Jesus’ silence, forgiveness, and trust in the Father amidst immense suffering. From the false accusations before Pilate to the mockery on the Cross, Jesus remains steadfast in his mission. His words, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” reveal the depth of his mercy. Even in death, Jesus offers hope to the repentant thief, promising paradise. This narrative invites us to reflect on how we respond to suffering and injustice in our own lives.
These readings call us to embrace humility and trust in God’s plan, even when it leads us through trials. Like the Suffering Servant and Christ himself, we are invited to endure hardships with patience and faith, knowing that God’s glory will ultimately be revealed. In our daily lives, we are challenged to imitate Jesus’ forgiveness and mercy, even in the face of adversity. Let us ask for the grace to follow in his footsteps, trusting that our struggles, like his, will lead to resurrection and new life.