Daily Readings - Fri Mar 22 2024
Jeremiah
7O LORD, you deceived me, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me.10I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side! Report him! Let's report him!" All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, "Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him."11But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten.12O LORD Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause.13Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.
John
31Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him,32but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"33"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."34Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'?35If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came--and the Scripture cannot be broken--36what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'?37Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does.38But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."39Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.40Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed41and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true."42And in that place many believed in Jesus.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the divine presence in our lives. The first reading from Jeremiah portrays the prophet in a moment of profound struggle, expressing his persecution and mockery by others. Despite his distress, Jeremiah's trust in God remains unwavering, as he seeks deliverance and vengeance, ultimately praising God for His liberation of the oppressed. This passage underscores the prophet's unshakable faith amidst adversity.
The Gospel from John presents Jesus facing accusations of blasphemy, as the Jews stone Him for claiming to be the Son of God. Jesus defends His divine nature by referencing Scripture and the works He performs through His Father, urging His accusers to believe in the works if they doubt His words. Narrowly escaping apprehension, Jesus retreats to the Jordan, where many come to believe in Him, affirming the truth of John the Baptist's testimony. This narrative highlights Jesus' divine identity and the transformative power of His works.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own trust in God during challenging times. Like Jeremiah, we may face persecution or mockery, yet we are called to remain steadfast in our faith, trusting in God's deliverance. Similarly, Jesus' encounter reminds us to recognize His divine presence through His teachings and miracles. In our daily lives, we are challenged to stand firm in our faith, even when faced with opposition, and to open our hearts to the divine works around us. Let us embrace the lessons of trust and faith, allowing God's presence to guide and transform us.