Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 11, 2020
First Reading: Genesis 1.1, 26-31a
1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.26Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.28God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."29Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.30And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground-everything that has the breath of life in it-I give every green plant for food." And it was so.31God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning-the sixth day.
Psalm 104
1Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.2He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent3and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.4He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.5He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.6You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.7But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;8they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them.9You set a boundary they cannot cross; never again will they cover the earth.10He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains.11They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.12The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.13He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.14He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate- bringing forth food from the earth:15wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart.16The trees of the LORD are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.17There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the pine trees.18The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the coneys.19The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.20You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl.21The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.22The sun rises, and they steal away; they return and lie down in their dens.23Then man goes out to his work, to his labor until evening.24How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.25There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number- living things both large and small.26There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.27These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time.28When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.29When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.30When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.31May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works-32he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke.33I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.34May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD.35But may sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more. Praise the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD.
Second Reading: Romans 6.3-11
3Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.9For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.10The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.11In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Gospel: Matthew 28.1-10
1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
Sermon
The readings today take us on a journey from creation to resurrection, inviting us to reflect on our identity, purpose, and ultimate hope. In the first reading from Genesis, we hear the beautiful account of God creating humanity in his own image and likeness. This passage reminds us of our inherent dignity and the special role we have as stewards of creation. God’s words, “Let us make man to our image and likeness,” reveal his intimate love for us and the high esteem in which he holds us. This creation story is not just about the past; it is a timeless reminder of who we are and how we are called to live.
The second reading from Romans and the Gospel from Matthew deepen this reflection by revealing how our identity and purpose are transformed through Christ. In Romans, Paul explains that through baptism, we have been buried with Christ and risen to new life. This means we are no longer bound by sin but are called to live as children of God, walking in the “newness of life.” The Gospel then brings us to the culmination of this transformation: the resurrection of Jesus. The empty tomb and the angel’s words, “He has risen, just as he said,” are a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness and the ultimate victory over sin and death. The women’s fear and joy, and their encounter with the risen Jesus, show us that the resurrection is not just an event of the past but a living reality that transforms our lives today.
These readings invite us to live with hope and purpose. Just as God entrusted humanity with the care of creation, he now calls us to live as new creations, bearing witness to his love and resurrection. In our daily lives, this means rejecting sin and embracing the freedom and joy of living for God. Let us remember that we are not just part of a creation story but are participants in the ongoing story of redemption. May we, like the women at the tomb, run to share the Good News with others, and may we, like the disciples, go to Galilee—back to our own places of mission—to encounter Christ anew and live as his followers.