Daily Readings - Fri Jun 01 2018
1 Peter
7But the end of everything draws near. And so, be prudent, and be vigilant in your prayers8But, before all things, have a constant mutual charity among yourselves. For love covers a multitude of sins9Show hospitality to one another without complaining10Just as each of you has received grace, minister in the same way to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God11When anyone speaks, it should be like words of God. When anyone ministers, it should be from the virtue that God provides, so that in all things God may be honored through Jesus Christ. To him is glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen12Most beloved, do not choose to sojourn in the passion which is a temptation to you, as if something new might happen to you13But instead, commune in the Passion of Christ, and be glad that, when his glory will be revealed, you too may rejoice with exultation
Mark
11And he entered into Jerusalem, into the temple. And having looked around at everything, since it was now the evening hour, he went out to Bethania with the twelve12And the next day, as they were departing from Bethania, he was hungry13And when he had seen a fig tree with leaves in the distance, he went to it, in case he might find something on it. And when he had gone to it, he found nothing but leaves. For it was not the season for figs14And in response, he said to it, "From now on and forever, may no one eat fruit from you again!" And his disciples heard this15And they went to Jerusalem. And when he had entered into the temple, he began to cast out the sellers and the buyers in the temple. And he overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the chairs of the vendors of doves16And he would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple17And he taught them, saying: "Is it not written: ‘For my house shall be called the house of prayer for all nations?’ But you have made it into a den of robbers.18And when the leaders of the priests, and the scribes, had heard this, they sought a means by which they might destroy him. For they feared him, because the entire multitude was in admiration over his doctrine19And when evening had arrived, he departed from the city20And when they passed by in the morning, they saw that the fig tree had dried up from the roots21And Peter, remembering, said to him, "Master, behold, the fig tree that you cursed has withered.22And in response, Jesus said to them: "Have the faith of God23Amen I say to you, that whoever will say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and who will not have hesitated in his heart, but will have believed: then whatever he has said be done, it shall be done for him24For this reason, I say to you, all things whatsoever that you ask for when praying: believe that you will receive them, and they will happen for you25And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your sins
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the call to live with purpose, faith, and love. In the first reading from 1 Peter, we are reminded that the end of all things is near, urging us to be prudent and vigilant in prayer. Peter emphasizes the importance of mutual love and hospitality, encouraging us to use the gifts we have received to serve one another. This passage is set against the backdrop of early Christian communities facing persecution, encouraging believers to remain steadfast in their faith and to live virtuously, knowing that their actions have eternal significance.
In the Gospel, Mark presents two powerful scenes: Jesus cleansing the temple and the withering of the fig tree. Jesus’ actions in the temple are a bold declaration of his authority and a call to purity of heart. The fig tree, which bears leaves but no fruit, serves as a parable about the kind of faith that is barren and unproductive. Jesus teaches that true faith is not just about outward appearances but about trusting in God’s power and aligning our wills with His. The withered fig tree becomes a lesson in the transformative power of faith and the importance of bearing spiritual fruit.
These readings are deeply connected. Peter’s call to hospitality and stewardship of God’s grace is mirrored in Jesus’ teaching on faith and the need to bear fruit. Both readings challenge us to examine our lives and ensure that our actions reflect our commitment to God. In our daily lives, we are called to be hospitable, to love without complaint, and to trust in God’s providence, even when circumstances seem uncertain. The moral lesson is clear: our faith must be active, rooted in love, and fruitful in service to others. Let us strive to live in such a way that our lives honor God and inspire others to do the same.