Daily Readings - Fri Mar 30 2018
Isaiah
13See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.14Just as there were many who were appalled at him - his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness-15so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.
1Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?2He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.3He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.4Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.5But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.6We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.7He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.8By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.9He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.10Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.11After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.12Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Hebrews
14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
7During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.8Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
John
1When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.2Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.3So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.4Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?"5"Jesus of Nazareth," they replied.6"I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.7Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."8"I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go."9This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me."10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)11Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"12Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him13and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.14Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people.15Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard,16but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in.17"You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not."18It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.19Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.20"I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.21Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said."22When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" he demanded.23"If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?"24Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.25As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, saying, "I am not."26One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?"27Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.28Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.29So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?"30"If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you."31Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law."32"But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"34"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"35"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"36Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."37"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."38"What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him.39But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?"40They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.
1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.2The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe3and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.4Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him."5When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"6As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him."7The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God."8When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid,9and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.10"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"11Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."12From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar."13When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha).14It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. "Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.15But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered.16Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.17So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).18Here they crucified him, and with him two others--one on each side and Jesus in the middle.19Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read:|sc JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.20Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.21The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews."22Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.24"Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." So this is what the soldiers did.25Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.26When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son,"27and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.28Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."29A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips.30When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.31Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.32The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other.33But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.35The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.36These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken,"37and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."38Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away.39He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.40Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.41At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.42Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound reflections on suffering, redemption, and the divine plan. The first reading from Isaiah introduces the figure of the suffering servant, who bears the sins of many and is exalted through humility. This prophecy points to Jesus, who embodies the servant’s role, taking on the burden of humanity’s sins. The second reading from Hebrews elevates Jesus as our High Priest, who, through his suffering, understands human frailty and offers salvation. The Gospel presents the Passion narrative, where Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion unfold, fulfilling the prophecies and showcasing his obedience to the Father.
These readings interweave to reveal the purpose of Jesus’ suffering. Isaiah’s prophecy finds its fulfillment in John’s narrative, while Hebrews bridges the theological understanding of Jesus’ role. Together, they illustrate that Jesus’ suffering was not random but a deliberate act of love, redeeming humanity. This connection emphasizes that suffering, when embraced with faith, can be transformative and redemptive.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we approach our struggles. Jesus’ example teaches us to find meaning in suffering, trusting in God’s plan. We are called to embrace humility and love, bearing burdens for others as Jesus did. The moral lesson is clear: our struggles, when united with Christ’s, can lead to spiritual growth and redemption. Let us strive to follow Jesus’ example, trusting in God’s plan and living with humility and love.