Daily Readings - Sun Mar 09 2025
Deuteronomy
4The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the LORD your God.5Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: "My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous.6But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, putting us to hard labor.7Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression.8So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with miraculous signs and wonders.9He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey;10and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, O LORD, have given me." Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him.
Romans
8But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Luke
1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert,2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.7So if you worship me, it will all be yours."8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here.10For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;11they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"12Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through themes of remembrance, faith, and trust in God. The first reading from Deuteronomy invites us to reflect on the Israelites' history, emphasizing gratitude for God's deliverance and provision. This act of bringing first fruits is not just a ritual but a profound expression of trust in God's faithfulness. The second reading from Romans expands this idea, highlighting that faith in Jesus Christ is universal, transcending boundaries, and leading to salvation. Here, Paul underscores that faith is both a heartfelt belief and a confessed truth.
The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus as the embodiment of this faith. Faced with temptation, Jesus relies on Scripture to resist the devil, demonstrating unwavering trust in God's plan. His responses show that true strength lies not in power or comfort but in fidelity to God's word.
These readings weave together a narrative of trust and faith. Just as the Israelites remembered God's actions, we too are called to recall His blessings. Like Paul, we are reminded that faith in Jesus is accessible to all. And as Jesus exemplified, our trust in God must guide us through life's challenges. In our daily lives, let us embrace this trust, standing firm against temptations and nurturing our faith through prayer and reflection. May we, like Jesus, find strength in God's word, remembering His faithfulness and confessing our faith boldly.