Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 17, 2025
First Reading: Exodus 12.1-8, 11-14
1And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,2This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.3Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:4And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.5Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:6And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.7And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.8And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.11And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.12For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.13And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.14And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
Psalm 116
1I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.2Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.3The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.4Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.5Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.6The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.7Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.8For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.9I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.10I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:11I said in my haste, All men are liars.12What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?13I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.14I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.15Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.16O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.17I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.18I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,19In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11.23-26
23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
Gospel: John 13.1-15
1Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.2And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;3Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;4He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.5After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.6Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?7Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.8Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.9Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.10Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.11For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.12So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?13Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.14If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.15For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound mystery of God’s love and the call to humility and service. In the first reading from Exodus, we hear the story of the Passover, where God instructs the Israelites to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb so that the angel of death will “pass over” their homes. This rite is a powerful symbol of liberation and salvation, prefiguring the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who would shed his blood to save humanity from sin. The context of this reading is the Israelites’ preparation for their escape from slavery in Egypt, and it reminds us that God’s love is always tied to liberation and the promise of new life.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians connects this ancient ritual to the Eucharist, which Jesus instituted on the night before his Passion. Paul reminds us that the bread and cup are not just symbols but the very body and blood of Christ, given for us. This sacrament is a remembrance of his death and a proclamation of his resurrection. The context here is the early Christian community’s celebration of the Lord’s Supper, and it underscores the deep unity we share with Christ and with one another through this sacred meal.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes this theme of love and service to its fullest expression. On the eve of his Passion, he humbles himself to wash the feet of his disciples, an act typically performed by slaves. When Peter resists, Jesus makes it clear that this act of humility is essential for true discipleship. The context is Jesus’ final hours with his disciples, teaching them one last lesson about the nature of his kingdom. By washing their feet, he shows that true greatness is found in serving others, and he calls us to follow his example.
These readings are deeply connected. The Passover in Exodus points to the ultimate Passover in Christ, who would pass over from death to life. The Eucharist in Corinthians is the continuation of this mystery, where we receive the gift of Christ’s body and blood. And in John’s Gospel, Jesus shows us how to live this gift by serving one another with humility and love. Together, they remind us that our faith is not just about rituals or doctrines but about living out God’s love in concrete acts of service and sacrifice.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How can we imitate Christ’s humility in our daily lives? How can we serve others, especially those in need? The Eucharist we celebrate is not just a memory but a call to live as Christ lived. Let us approach the altar with gratitude for the gift of Christ’s body and blood, and let us leave with a renewed commitment to serve one another, just as he served us. In doing so, we fulfill the commandment of love that Jesus gave us, and we become the hands and feet of Christ in the world.