Daily Readings - Sun Mar 03 2024
Exodus
1And God spake all these words, saying,2I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.7Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.12Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.13Thou shalt not kill.14Thou shalt not commit adultery.15Thou shalt not steal.16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.17Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
1 Corinthians
18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
John
13And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,14And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:15And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;16And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.17And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.18Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?19Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.20Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?21But he spake of the temple of his body.22When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.23Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.24But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,25And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between God’s law, the power of the Cross, and the authority of Jesus Christ. In the first reading from Exodus, we hear the Ten Commandments, which are not just rules but a way of life that reflects God’s love and care for his people. These commandments call us to reverence God, respect others, and live with integrity. They remind us that our actions have consequences and that living in accordance with God’s will leads to a life of peace and harmony.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians shifts our focus to the Cross of Christ. St. Paul reminds us that the Cross is both foolishness and power—foolishness to those who do not believe, but power to those who have been saved. The Jews sought signs, the Greeks sought wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified. This reading challenges us to embrace the paradox of the Cross: in weakness, we find strength; in surrender, we find victory. The Cross is the ultimate expression of God’s wisdom and love, and it invites us to trust in his plan, even when it seems counterintuitive.
In the Gospel, Jesus cleanses the temple, demonstrating his authority and zeal for his Father’s house. This act is a powerful reminder that our lives and our communities must be centered on God. Jesus’ words, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” point to his own body as the true temple, and his resurrection as the ultimate sign of God’s power. Like the disciples, we are called to remember Jesus’ words and actions, and to believe in the Scriptures and in the power of the Cross.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we living according to God’s commandments? Are we embracing the power of the Cross in our lives? Are we allowing Jesus to cleanse our hearts and minds, making them temples of the Holy Spirit? May we trust in God’s wisdom, live with integrity, and remember that true strength comes from surrendering to his will.