Daily Readings for March 1, 2015

1ST READING

Was God really intending to ask Abraham to sacrifice his only son? I think it is safe to assume that this was never the intention of God. What about Abraham? What was his intention? I think Abraham would have gone through with it. Such acts were relatively commonplace in his time. However, God provides an alternative sacrifice for Abraham just as He has done for all of us. Jesus is the One who is sacrificed for our sins on the cross. God gives of Himself what He is not willing to allow of Abraham. This act of love proves His great love for us.

Genesis 22:1-2, 9, 10-13, 15-18

1 God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am!” he replied. 2 Then God said: “Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you.” 9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. 10 Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the Lord’s messenger called to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am!” he answered. 12 “Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the messenger. “Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.” 13As Abraham looked about, he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So he went and took the ram and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son. 15Again the Lord’s messenger called to Abraham from heaven 16 and said: “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son, 17 I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies, 18 and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing — all this because you obeyed my command.”    

P S A L M

Psalm 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19

R: I will walk before the Lord, in the Land of the living.

10 I believed, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted.” 15 Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. (R) 16 O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds. 17 To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. (R) 18 My vows to the Lord I will pay in the presence of all his people, 19in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. (R)

2ND READING

Paul believes that God is faithful in all things. Paul knows God will finish what He has begun in us all. No matter what trials or difficulties we may face, God will prevail provided we trust in and believe that nothing is impossible for Him. If we rely on our own strength, then we are courting disaster. But if we entrust all to God and His infinite love and mercy, then we will win over our struggles in the end.

Romans 8:31-34

31 Brothers and sisters: If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. 34 Who will condemn? Christ Jesus who died — or rather, was raised — who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.

GOSPEL

Let us always give God time to speak His Word to us no matter what happens. Let us open our hearts to His truth and give Him the opportunity to make His will known to us. There are times when we will not understand what God is doing in our lives. These are times that call for our trust as He has been faithful in the past and because He promises to be so in the future. We can trust God, even if times are difficult.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard: This is my beloved Son, listen to him.

Mark 9:2-10

2 Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4 Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. 7 Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” 8 Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.

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