Daily Readings - Tue Mar 01 2022

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 invited to reflect on the nature of discipleship and the call to holiness. The First Reading from 1 Peter reminds us that the prophets of old searched diligently for the salvation that we now know through Christ. They ministered not for themselves but for us, and their work was guided by the Holy Spirit. Peter urges us to gird our minds, be sober, and hope fully in the grace revealed in Jesus Christ. This call to holiness is not about outward conformity but about living as sons and daughters of obedience, reflecting the Holiness of God in every aspect of our lives. The Gospel from Mark complements this message as Jesus responds to Peter's declaration of leaving everything to follow Him. Jesus assures the disciples that their sacrifices will be abundantly rewarded, not only in this life but also in the age to come. However, He also warns that many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. This reversal underscores the humility and selflessness required of those who follow Christ. True greatness in God's kingdom is measured by surrender, trust, and a willingness to embrace persecution for the sake of the Gospel. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded that following Christ is not without cost. It demands letting go of our attachments and desires, trusting that God will provide far more than we could ever lose. The call to holiness is not about perfection but about living with intentionality, allowing the Spirit to transform us. May we embrace the sacrifices of discipleship with joy, knowing that they lead to eternal life. Let us strive to live as holy people, reflecting God's love and truth in every moment, and trust in His promise to reward our faithfulness beyond measure.