Daily Readings - Fri Apr 08 2022
Jeremiah
7O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.10For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.11But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.12But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.13Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.
John
31Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.32Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?33The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.34Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?35If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;36Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?37If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.38But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.39Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,40And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.41And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.42And many believed on him there.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives of faith, persecution, and trust in God’s providence. The first reading from Jeremiah portrays the prophet as a man deeply afflicted by the mockery and persecution of those around him. Despite his suffering, Jeremiah clings to his faith in God, acknowledging that the Lord is his strength and that those who persecute him will ultimately fall. His cry to God is one of trust, even in the midst of great trial. In the Gospel, we see Jesus facing similar opposition. The Pharisees, unable to accept His divine claims, seek to stone Him for blasphemy. Yet Jesus stands firm, pointing to His works as evidence of His union with the Father. He reminds them that the Father’s presence in Him is the source of His authority and power.
Both readings highlight the tension between standing up for the truth and facing opposition. Jeremiah and Jesus are figures who embody the cost of proclaiming God’s message in a world that often resists it. For Jeremiah, this means enduring mockery and betrayal, while for Jesus, it means confronting the Pharisees’ refusal to accept His divine identity. Yet in both cases, we see a deep trust in God’s plan and a refusal to back down from their mission. This reminds us that living out our faith may not always be easy, but it is in these moments of challenge that our reliance on God is most evident.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how they apply to our own lives. How often do we face situations where standing up for what is right or living according to God’s truth leads to discomfort or even opposition? Like Jeremiah and Jesus, we are called to trust in God’s presence and providence, even when the road ahead seems uncertain. Let us pray for the courage to remain faithful, even in the face of adversity, and to remember that God is always with us, strengthening us to endure and to witness to His love.