Daily Readings - Mon Apr 14 2025
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
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful images of hope, justice, and selfless love. The first reading from Isaiah presents us with a vision of God’s servant, a figure of humility and compassion, who is called to bring light to the nations and freedom to those in darkness. This servant is not one who shouts or breaks the fragile; instead, he gently leads with justice and truth. The passage reminds us that God’s work is often quiet, persistent, and rooted in mercy, even in the face of great challenges.
The Gospel reading from John shifts our focus to a moment of intimate love and controversy. Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with costly ointment, an act of extravagant devotion that fills the room with its fragrance. While Judas criticizes her for what he sees as wastefulness, Jesus defends her, pointing to the deeper truth: her actions are a preparation for his burial, a sign of love in the face of death. This moment teaches us that true love is not measured by practicality but by the depth of the heart. It also reminds us that the poor will always be among us, but Jesus—our Lord and Savior—will not always be physically present. Therefore, we must cherish every opportunity to honor him and serve others in his name.
These readings call us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. Like Isaiah’s servant, we are called to be instruments of justice and light, even in small, quiet ways. Like Mary, we are invited to offer our lives, talents, and resources as acts of love and worship, trusting that God will use them for his purposes. In a world often driven by noise and efficiency, these readings remind us of the beauty of humility, compassion, and selfless love. May we strive to embody these qualities, knowing that they are the very heart of God’s kingdom.