Daily Readings - Tue May 29 2018

¹⁰About this salvation, the prophets inquired and diligently searched, those who prophesied about the future grace in you¹¹inquiring as to what type of condition was signified to them by the Spirit of Christ, when foretelling those sufferings that are in Christ, as well as the subsequent glories¹²To them, it was revealed that they were ministering, not for themselves, but for you those things which have now been announced to you through those who have preached the Gospel to you, through the Holy Spirit, who was sent down from heaven to the One upon whom the Angels desire to gaze¹³For this reason, gird the waist of your mind, be sober, and hope perfectly in the grace that is offered to you in the revelation of Jesus Christ¹⁴Be like sons of obedience, not conforming to the desires of your former ignorance¹⁵but in accord with him who has called you: the Holy One. And in every behavior, you yourself must be holy¹⁶for it is written: "You shall be holy, for I am Holy.

Mark

Chapter 10

²⁸And Peter began to say to him, "Behold, we have left all things and have followed you.²⁹In response, Jesus said: "Amen I say to you, There is no one who has left behind house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or land, for my sake and for the Gospel³⁰who will not receive one hundred times as much, now in this time: houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and land, with persecutions, and in the future age eternal life³¹But many of the first shall be last, and the last shall be first.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound commitment required in following Christ and the promise of eternal life that accompanies such devotion. The first reading from 1 Peter encourages believers to live holy lives, reflecting on the prophets who foretold the sufferings and glories of Christ. This passage, written to early Christians facing persecution, underscores the importance of maintaining a steadfast faith and virtuous living despite challenges. The Gospel from Mark highlights the sacrifices made by the disciples and Jesus’ assurance of abundant rewards, both in this life and the next. He also reminds us that our earthly status does not determine our eternal standing, emphasizing humility and trust in God’s plan. These readings are deeply connected, as both emphasize the transformative power of faith. Peter calls us to holiness, not out of fear, but out of love and reverence for God. Mark’s Gospel challenges us to embrace sacrifice and trust in God’s promise of eternal life. Together, they invite us to reevaluate our priorities and commitments, aligning them with the values of the Kingdom of God. In our daily lives, these teachings call us to live with integrity, compassion, and hope. We are to remain faithful, even when faced with difficulties, trusting that our sacrifices contribute to a greater purpose. Let us strive to be holy, not in our own strength, but through the grace of God, and let us trust in His promise of eternal life. May we live each day with the conviction that our commitment to Christ will yield abundant fruit, both now and forever.