Dear Brother and Sister in Christ,
Welcome to Catholic Mass Readings in Biblemsg.com. We are on the March 31, 2023 in the 5th Friday of Lent. Today’s Mass readings and reflection on Jeremiah 20:10-13; John 10:31-42. In our daily reflection today, the Main theme is God – my mighty champion!
Catholic Mass Readings
Main Theme of the Day: God – my mighty champion!
Table of Contents
Today’s Readings
| First Reading | Jeremiah 20:10-13 |
| Gospel Reading | John 10:31-42 |
First Reading
Jeremiah 20:10-13
10 Yes, I hear the whisperings of many: “Terror on every side! Denounce! let us denounce him!” All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine. “Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail, and take our vengeance on him.”
11 But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph. In their failure they will be put to utter shame, to lasting, unforgettable confusion.
12 O LORD of hosts, you who test the just, who probe mind and heart, Let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause.
13 Sing to the LORD, praise the LORD, For he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 18:2-3a, 3bc-4, 5-6, 7 (R. see 7)
Response: I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
Gospel
John 10:31-42
31 The Jews again picked up rocks to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?”
33 The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”‘?
35 If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and scripture cannot be set aside,
36 can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
37 If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me;
38 but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize (and understand) that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
39 (Then) they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power.
40 He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained.
41 Many came to him and said, “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.”
42 And many there began to believe in him.
Catholic Homily for Today
Focus: In everyone’s life suffering is bound to come. Especially, the life of a true believer in God and follower of Christ will have to face many problems for the sake of his faith. What will be his response and reaction?
1. Good and godly people suffer. This is an obvious fact. In today’s readings, we find this in the case of prophet Jeremiah and Jesus. Both face opposition, rejection, persecution, and condemnation. Both stand in the face of death, becoming victims of plots to kill them
2. It is not a punishment. It is the price they had to pay for their loyalty and commitment. It is the cost of their conviction and authenticity. Few things always stand out in them. One is their total communion with God. That is why Jesus would declare, “the Father is in me and I am in the Father”
3. Second, even in their greatest desperation, they felt this total belonging to God. They do not lose heart. They are not shaken in their faith. Jesus was convinced that Father is always on his side and will never abandon him. The Father will be his guide and strength and surely will glorify him. Jeremiah too was convinced, saying, “The Lord is with me as a dread warrior”
4. .Third, they deeply and perseveringly hoped for God’s vindication. Jesus says that everyone will be judged according to their faith or unfaith. The prophet affirms, “My persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not succeed. They will be eternally dishonoured… The Lord will deliver the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers”
5. They surrendered themselves totally to God. They accept their sufferings as tests and trials for righteousness. They do not seek vengeance by themselves. Rather they commit their cause to God. They remain totally focused on their mission. Come what may, they never swerved from their commitment to the mission entrusted to them by God.
Direction: Jesus could challenge the Jews, “For which of the good works I have shown you from the Father you are going to stone me?” He was convinced because he was authentic. How many are convincingly authentic?
Note
Hope you had a good experience reading the catholic reflection for the day. With another inspiring message we shall meet in the next post. Stay Tuned in Biblemsg.com Thank You.
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