The readings make space for a truthful return, without panic or performance. Stay with what Jesus says or does here, and let it ask for one honest response.
Today’s readings
First Reading
Jeremiah 11:18-20
The LORD gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it. Then you showed me their doings. But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter. I didn't know that they had devised plans against me, saying, "Let's destroy the tree with its fruit, and let's cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered." But, LORD of Armies, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, I will see your vengeance on them; for to you I have revealed my cause.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 7:2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12
lest they tear apart my soul like a lion, ripping it in pieces, while there is no one to deliver. LORD, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands, Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; their minds and hearts are searched by the righteous God. My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge, yes, a God who has indignation every day. If a man doesn't repent, he will sharpen his sword; he has bent and strung his bow.
Gospel
John 7:40-53
Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, "This is truly the prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "What, does the Christ come out of Galilee? Hasn't the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the offspring of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" So a division arose in the multitude because of him. Some of them would have arrested him, but no one laid hands on him. The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said to them, "Why didn't you bring him?" The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!" The Pharisees therefore answered them, "You aren't also led astray, are you? Have any of the rulers or any of the Pharisees believed in him? But this multitude that doesn't know the law is cursed." Nicodemus (he who came to him by night, being one of them) said to them, "Does our law judge a man unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?" They answered him, "Are you also from Galilee? Search and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee." Everyone went to his own house,
A question for your journal
What burden could you name before God without trying to fix it first?
Scripture text: World English Bible Catholic Edition, public domain. Reading citations are prepared for Come Aside from MIT-licensed citation metadata.
Pray with the day
Keep the day with you.
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