Daily Readings - Tue Apr 04 2023
Isaiah
1Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.2And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;3And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.4Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.5And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.6And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
John
21When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.22Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.23Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.24Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.25He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?26Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.27And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.28Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.29For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.30He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.31Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.32If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.33Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.36Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.37Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.38Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound reflections on divine purpose and human response. The first reading from Isaiah presents the figure of the servant of the Lord, who, despite feeling that his efforts are in vain, is reminded that his mission is not limited to Israel but extends to the Gentiles as a light of salvation. This servant embodies trust in God’s plan, even when the results seem uncertain. The Gospel from John shifts the focus to the intimate moment of the Last Supper, where Jesus reveals that one of his closest disciples will betray him. This moment of sorrow is followed by Peter’s bold pledge of loyalty, which Jesus gently tempers with the prediction of Peter’s denial. Together, these readings invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the challenges of living out our calling.
The context of Isaiah’s prophecy is one of hope amidst exile and despair. The servant’s song reassures Israel that God’s plan is not confined to their immediate circumstances but extends to the entire world. Similarly, in John’s Gospel, Jesus is preparing his disciples for the events that will unfold, emphasizing that his glory is intertwined with the Father’s. Both readings highlight the tension between human limitations and divine providence. Isaiah’s servant and Peter, in their own ways, struggle with doubt and failure, yet they are called to trust in God’s larger plan.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded that our faith is not about achieving perfection or avoiding setbacks. Like the servant and Peter, we are called to trust in God’s purpose, even when our efforts seem futile or when we stumble. The moral lesson here is one of perseverance and humility. We are not defined by our failures but by our willingness to return to God and continue walking in faith. Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s plan, even when the path is unclear, and to remain loyal to our calling, knowing that God’s glory is revealed in our weaknesses.