Daily Readings - Sun Apr 03 2022
Isaiah
16Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;17Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.18Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.19Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.20The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.21This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
Philippians
8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
John
1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and 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.