Daily Readings - Tue Mar 27 2018

Isaiah

1Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name.2He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.3He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor."4But I said, "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the LORD's hand, and my reward is with my God."5And now the LORD says- he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength-6he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

John

21After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."22His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.23One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.24Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."25Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"26Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon.27As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.28"What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.29Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor.30As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.31When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him.32If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.33"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.36Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."37Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."38Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of service, betrayal, and trust in God’s plan. The first reading from Isaiah presents the figure of the suffering servant, who, despite feeling that his efforts are in vain, is reminded by God that his mission extends far beyond Israel to the Gentiles. This servant’s journey is marked by trust in God’s providence, even when the results of his labor are not immediately apparent. In the Gospel, we find Jesus at the Last Supper, predicting his betrayal by Judas and Peter’s denial. These moments of sorrow and failure are set against the backdrop of Jesus’ unwavering commitment to his mission, even as he faces the darkness of rejection and abandonment. The connection between the two readings lies in their emphasis on the challenges inherent in serving God’s will. Isaiah’s servant and Jesus both experience moments of doubt and discouragement, yet they remain steadfast in their trust in God. For the servant, this trust leads to the realization that his mission is not limited to Israel but extends to all nations. For Jesus, it leads to the ultimate act of self-giving love, even in the face of betrayal. These stories remind us that our own journeys of faith are not immune to setbacks, but it is precisely in these moments that we are called to deepen our trust in God’s plan. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are invited to reflect on how we respond to failure and discouragement. Like the servant in Isaiah, we may feel that our efforts are in vain, but God assures us that our work has meaning beyond what we can see. Like Peter, we may falter in our resolve, but Jesus calls us to follow him even in our weakness. The moral lesson here is clear: our faith is not measured by our successes but by our willingness to trust in God’s providence, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. Let us, therefore, embrace the challenges of our own mission, knowing that God’s glory is revealed not in our achievements but in our fidelity to his will.