Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 28, 2020
First Reading: Jeremiah 11.18-20
18And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings.19But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.20But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.
Psalm 7
1O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:2Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.3O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;4If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)5Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.6Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.7So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.8The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.9Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.10My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.11God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.12If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.13He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.14Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.15He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.16His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.17I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
Gospel: John 7.40-53
40Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.41Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?42Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?43So there was a division among the people because of him.44And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.45Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?46The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.47Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?48Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?49But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.50Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)51Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?52They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.53And every man went unto his own house.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, discernment, and the challenges of following God’s will. The first reading from Jeremiah portrays the prophet as a meek lamb led to slaughter, unaware of the plots against him. Jeremiah’s trust in God’s justice shines through as he cries out to the Lord, seeking vengeance not out of malice but out of a deep reliance on God’s righteousness. This passage reminds us that even in the face of betrayal and uncertainty, faith in God’s plan can sustain us.
The Gospel from John presents a scene of division and confusion. Jesus’ words have stirred debate among the crowd, with some hailing him as the Prophet or the Messiah, while others question his origins. The Pharisees dismiss the crowd as ignorant and argue that no prophet can come from Galilee. Nicodemus, however, challenges their rush to judgment, advocating for a fair hearing. This passage highlights the tension between preconceived notions and the truth of God’s revelation. It calls us to humility and openness, lest we, like the Pharisees, allow our assumptions to blind us to the presence of God.
Both readings encourage us to examine our own hearts and minds. Jeremiah’s trust in God’s justice invites us to surrender our struggles to the Lord, even when the path ahead seems unclear. The Gospel challenges us to approach God’s truth with humility, avoiding the pitfalls of prejudice and self-reliance. In our daily lives, let us strive to trust in God’s plan, even when faced with opposition, and to seek the truth with open and discerning hearts. May we, like Jeremiah, find strength in God’s justice, and may we, like Nicodemus, advocate for fairness and understanding in a world often divided by doubt and fear.