Daily Readings - Sun Mar 07 2021
Exodus
1And God spoke all these words:2"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.3"You shall have no other gods before me.7"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.8"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.12"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.13"You shall not murder.14"You shall not commit adultery.15"You shall not steal.16"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.17"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
1 Corinthians
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
John
13When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.14In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.15So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.16To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"17His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."18Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"19Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."20The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?"21But the temple he had spoken of was his body.22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.23Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.24But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men.25He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through three significant texts that weave together themes of divine guidance, wisdom, and redemption. The first reading from Exodus presents the Ten Commandments, a cornerstone of moral guidance given to the Israelites, establishing a covenant with God. These commandments are not just rules but a blueprint for a life aligned with God's will, fostering a community of love, respect, and justice.
Paul's letter to the Corinthians shifts our focus to the nature of true wisdom. He contrasts human wisdom with God's, highlighting the crucified Christ as the epitome of divine wisdom. What seems foolish to the world—sacrificial love and humility—is, in fact, the power of God. This reminds us that our understanding is limited and that true wisdom comes from embracing the cross, where love triumphs over human folly.
In John's Gospel, Jesus cleanses the temple, asserting His divine authority. His actions and words point to His resurrection, the ultimate act of love and redemption. This narrative invites us to reflect on our own temples—our hearts and lives—urging us to purify them, making space for God's presence. Just as Jesus transformed the temple, we are called to be transformed by His love and wisdom.
In our daily lives, let us live by the Ten Commandments, not as constraints, but as guides toward a virtuous life. Let us embrace the wisdom of the cross, trusting in God's plan even when it seems perplexing. And let us allow Jesus to cleanse our hearts, making them temples of His love and light. Through this, we embody the wisdom and authority of Christ, living as His disciples in a world that often seeks fleeting wisdom. May we find strength in His resurrection, knowing that true transformation comes from His love and grace.