Judica
The name comes from the Latin Introit for the day, Psalm 43:1:
"Judica me, Deus..." ("Vindicate me, O God..." or "Judge me, O God...")
Today’s Readings
Old Testament: Genesis 22: 1-14
In this profound and harrowing account, God tests Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. As they climb Mount Moriah, Isaac asks about the lamb for the sacrifice, and Abraham prophetically replies, "God will provide for himself the lamb." At the final moment, the Angel of the Lord stops Abraham, and a ram caught in the thicket is sacrificed instead. Abraham names the place "The Lord Will Provide."
Epistle: Hebrews 9: 11-15
The author of Hebrews explains that Christ has appeared as the High Priest of the good things to come. Unlike the old priests who offered the blood of goats and calves, Jesus entered the Holy Place once for all by His own blood, securing an eternal redemption. This sacrifice purifies our consciences from "dead works" to serve the living God, making Him the mediator of a new covenant.
Gospel: John 8: (42-45) 46-59
Jesus engages in a sharp confrontation with the religious leaders regarding His identity. When they accuse Him of having a demon, Jesus points to His honor from the Father. The tension reaches a climax when Jesus declares, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." By using the divine name of God, Jesus claims His divinity; the leaders pick up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hides Himself and leaves the temple.
Psalm43 (v5)
Thought for the Day
The Lamb in the Thicket On Judica Sunday, we hear the cry "Judge me, O God!" It is a dangerous prayer to pray unless you have a Mediator. Today, we see that Jesus is that Mediator. He is the "I AM" who existed before Abraham, yet He is also the true Isaac—the beloved Son carrying the wood for His own sacrifice. On the cross, Jesus was "judged" in our place so that we might be "vindicated" before the Father. As the crosses in our churches are veiled today, we look past the purple cloth to the blood of the New Covenant that cleanses us from all sin.
"Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad." — John 8:56