Daily Readings - Wed Apr 02 2025
Isaiah
8Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;9That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.10They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.11And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.12Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.13Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.14But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.15Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
John
16And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.17But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.18Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.19Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.20For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.21For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.22For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.25Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.26For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;27And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.28Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.30I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s loving care for his people and the profound relationship between the Father and the Son. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a beautiful expression of God’s compassion and faithfulness. Speaking through the prophet, God reassures his people that he has not abandoned them, even in their darkest moments. He promises to restore and renew them, offering them abundant life and freedom from the bonds that oppress them. This passage is set in the context of Israel’s exile, where the people felt forgotten and forsaken. Yet, Isaiah reminds them—and us—that God’s love is unwavering, like a mother’s love for her child, and that he will always provide for those who trust in him.
In the Gospel, Jesus deepens this theme by revealing the intimate unity between himself and the Father. He explains that his works are not his own but are the works of the Father, and that the Father has entrusted him with the power to give life and to judge. This teaching angered the Jews because it challenged their understanding of God and their traditions. Yet, Jesus’ words reveal the heart of his mission: to bring life and light to a world in darkness. Just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, Jesus, as the Son, shares in this divine work. His ultimate goal is to draw all people to the Father, that they might have eternal life.
These readings call us to trust in God’s loving plan, even when it seems unclear or challenging. Like the exiled Israelites, we may sometimes feel forgotten or lost, but God’s promise to us is the same: he will never forget us, and he will always provide for us. Jesus’ words remind us to look beyond our limited human perspectives and to embrace the truth that God’s ways are greater than our own. Let us open our hearts to the Father’s love, revealed through his Son, and allow ourselves to be transformed by the gift of eternal life that Jesus offers. May we, like Jesus, seek not our own will but the will of the One who sent us, trusting that his plan will lead us to true freedom and joy.