Daily Readings - Wed Mar 14 2018

First Reading - Isaiah 49.8-15

⁸Thus says the Lord: In a pleasing time, I have heeded you, and in the day of salvation, I have assisted you. And I have preserved you, and I have presented you as a covenant of the people, so that you would lift up the earth, and possess the scattered inheritances⁹so that you would say to those who are bound, "Go forth!" and to those who are in darkness, "Be released!" They will pasture along the roads, and their pastures will be in every open place¹⁰They will not hunger or thirst, nor will the heat of the sun beat down upon them. For the one who takes pity on them will rule them, and he will give them to drink from fountains of waters¹¹And I will make all my mountains into a road, and my paths will be exalted¹²Behold, some will come from far away, and behold, others from the north and from the sea, and still others from the land of the south¹³Give praise, O heavens! And exult, O earth! Let the mountains give praise with jubilation! For the Lord has consoled his people, and he will take pity on his poor ones¹⁴And Zion said: "The Lord has abandoned me, and the Lord has forgotten me.¹⁵Can a woman forget her infant, so as not to take pity on the child of her womb? But even if she would forget, still I shall never forget you

Gospel - John 5.16-30

John

Chapter 5

¹⁶Because of this, the Jews were persecuting Jesus, for he was doing these things on the Sabbath¹⁷But Jesus answered them, "Even now, my Father is working, and I am working.¹⁸And so, because of this, the Jews were seeking to kill him even more so. For not only did he break the Sabbath, but he even said that God was his Father, making himself equal to God¹⁹Then Jesus responded and said to them: "Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son is not able to do anything of himself, but only what he has seen the Father doing. For whatever he does, even this does the Son do, similarly²⁰For the Father loves the Son, and he shows him all that he himself does. And greater works than these will he show him, so much so that you shall wonder²¹For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wills²²For the Father does not judge anyone. But he has given all judgment to the Son²³so that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son, does not honor the Father who sent him²⁴Amen, amen, I say to you, that whoever hears my word, and believes in him who sent me, has eternal life, and he does not go into judgment, but instead he crosses from death into life²⁵Amen, amen, I say to you, that the hour is coming, and it is now, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear it shall live²⁶For just as the Father has life in himself, so also has he granted to the Son to have life in himself²⁷And he has given him the authority to accomplish judgment. For he is the Son of man²⁸Do not be amazed at this. For the hour is coming in which all who are in the grave shall hear the voice of the Son of God²⁹And those who have done good shall go forth to the resurrection of life. Yet truly, those who have done evil shall go to the resurrection of judgment³⁰I am not able to do anything of myself. As I hear, so do I judge. And my judgment is just. For I do not seek my own will, but the will of him who sent me

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope, redemption, and the divine nature of Jesus Christ. The first reading from Isaiah speaks of God’s covenant with His people, promising comfort and restoration. The prophet reassures those who feel abandoned, likening God’s love to that of a mother who cannot forget her child. This passage reminds us of God’s faithfulness and His plan to bring light to those in darkness, offering abundant life to all who trust in Him. The Gospel from John deepens this message as Jesus defends His divine works, performed even on the Sabbath. Jesus reveals His unity with the Father, emphasizing that His actions are not His own but reflect the Father’s will. He speaks of His authority to give life and to judge, not out of self-interest, but in harmony with the Father’s plan. This passage challenges us to recognize Jesus’ divine role in our salvation and to honor Him as we honor the Father. These readings remind us to trust in God’s providence, especially when we feel forgotten or lost. Like the people in Isaiah’s time, we are called to hope in God’s promises. From John, we learn that Jesus’ works and words reveal His divine mission to bring us from death to life. Let us live in faith, trusting that God is always working for our good, and may we honor Jesus as the source of eternal life, following His teachings and example in our daily lives.