Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 1, 2022
First Reading: Wisdom 2.1a, 12-22
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Psalm 34
1I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.2My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.3Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.4I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.5Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.6This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.8Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.9Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.10The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.11Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.12Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,13keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.14Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.15The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;16the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.17The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.18The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.19A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;20he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.21Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.22The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
Gospel: John 7.1-2, 10, 25-30
1After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life.2But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near,10However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.25At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, "Isn't this the man they are trying to kill?26Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Christ?27But we know where this man is from; when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from."28Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, "Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him,29but I know him because I am from him and he sent me."30At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of faith, rejection, and divine providence. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we encounter the unjust suffering of a righteous man. His persecutors, driven by malice and ignorance, question his faith and God’s presence in his life, leading them to test him through suffering and death. This passage highlights the profound trust of the just in God’s plan, even in the face of immense adversity. The Gospel from John presents Jesus, who faces similar rejection and skepticism. Despite the danger, Jesus boldly proclaims his divine mission, teaching in the temple and asserting that he is sent by God, whom the people do not fully understand. The Pharisees’ attempt to arrest him reminds us that Jesus’ time had not yet come, underscoring the mystery of God’s timing and plan.
Both readings reveal a deep connection in their portrayal of rejection and misunderstanding. The just man in Wisdom and Jesus in the Gospel embody the same faith and trust in God’s plan, even when surrounded by hostility and confusion. The first reading warns us against the blindness of malice and the dangers of doubting God’s presence in the lives of the righteous. The Gospel, meanwhile, shows us Jesus as the ultimate example of steadfastness in fulfilling his mission, despite the opposition. Together, these readings remind us that true wisdom and justice are often met with resistance, but they also assure us that God’s truth will ultimately prevail.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to embrace faith and trust in God’s plan, especially when we face challenges or misunderstandings. Like the just man and Jesus, we are invited to remain steadfast in our commitment to God, even when others question or oppose us. Let us reflect on our own lives and ask: Where am I experiencing rejection or doubt? How can I trust more deeply in God’s plan and timing? May we, like Jesus, find the courage to live out our faith boldly, knowing that God’s truth will shine through, even in the darkest moments.