Daily Readings - Thu Mar 31 2022
Exodus
7Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.8They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.'9"I have seen these people," the LORD said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people.10Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."11But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. "O LORD," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?12Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people.13Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.'"14Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
John
18For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.31"If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid.32There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid.33"You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth.34Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.35John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.36"I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.37And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,38nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.39You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,40yet you refuse to come to me to have life.41"I do not accept praise from men,42but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.43I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.44How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?45"But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set.46If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.47But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful moments of faith and unbelief. The first reading from Exodus tells the story of the Israelites’ rebellion against God while Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. The people, impatient and fearful, turn to a golden calf, worshipping it as their savior. Their actions are a stark rejection of the God who had just delivered them from slavery in Egypt. Moses, however, stands as a mediator, pleading with God to spare His people, reminding Him of His promises to their ancestors. This passage highlights the tension between human weakness and God’s steadfast love, as well as the importance of intercession and trust in God’s faithfulness.
The Gospel reading from John presents a similar dynamic of belief and unbelief, but in a very different context. Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, who are determined to kill Him because of His claims to divine sonship and His works, which they see as violations of the Sabbath. Jesus defends Himself by pointing to the testimony of John the Baptist, the works He performs, and the Father’s own witness. He laments that while the Pharisees study the Scriptures, they fail to recognize Him as the fulfillment of those Scriptures. This passage underscores the theme of spiritual blindness and the importance of seeking God’s glory rather than human approval.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God. The Israelites in Exodus turned to a false god because they lost sight of the true God who had delivered them. Similarly, the Pharisees in John failed to recognize Jesus because they were more committed to their own interpretations of the law than to seeking the truth. For us, this means being mindful of the ways we might turn away from God—whether through idolatry, spiritual complacency, or a refusal to see God’s presence in our lives. Like Moses, we are called to intercede for others and to trust in God’s promises, even when the world around us seems to have lost its way. And like Jesus, we are called to seek God’s glory and to open our hearts to the truth, even when it challenges our assumptions. May we, like the faithful remnant in both readings, remain steadfast in our commitment to God, trusting in His love and mercy, even when the world around us falters.