Daily Readings - Mon Apr 03 2023
Isaiah
1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.2He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.3A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.4He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.5Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:6I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;7To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
John
1Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.2There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.3Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.4Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?6This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.7Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.8For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.9Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.10But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;11Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of humility, service, and the profound love of God for his people. In the first reading from Isaiah, we encounter a beautiful description of God’s chosen servant, who is gentle, just, and filled with the Spirit. This servant is not one who will break the bruised reed or extinguish the smoldering wick; instead, he will bring light and hope to the nations. Isaiah reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways, and his justice is not limited to the powerful or the loud. The servant’s mission is to open the eyes of the blind, free the captive, and bring light to those in darkness. This passage is a prophecy of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who embodies these qualities perfectly.
In the Gospel, we see Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus’ feet with costly perfume, an act of extravagant love and devotion. While Judas criticizes her for what he sees as wastefulness, Jesus defends her, explaining that her action is a preparation for his burial. This moment reveals the depth of Mary’s faith and love for Jesus, as well as the contrast between her selfless generosity and Judas’ selfishness. The passage also highlights the tension between those who seek to follow Jesus and those who oppose him, even among his own disciples. The raising of Lazarus and the subsequent plot to kill him show how Jesus’ presence and power provoke both faith and fear.
These readings call us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. Like Mary, we are invited to offer our lives, our time, and our resources to God with humility and love. Like the servant in Isaiah, we are called to be instruments of God’s justice and light in a world that often prefers darkness. The moral lesson here is clear: true greatness is found in serving others, not in seeking power or wealth. Let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to pour out our lives for others, as Jesus did for us? Are we willing to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems difficult or counterintuitive? May we follow the example of Jesus, the gentle servant, and may our lives be a fragrance of love and hope to those around us.