Daily Readings - Thu Apr 25 2024
1 Peter
5Similarly, young persons, be subject to the elders. And infuse all humility among one another, for God resists the arrogant, but to the humble he gives grace6And so, be humbled under the powerful hand of God, so that he may exalt you in the time of visitation7Cast all your cares upon him, for he takes care of you8Be sober and vigilant. For your adversary, the devil, is like a roaring lion, traveling around and seeking those whom he might devour9Resist him by being strong in faith, being aware that the same passions afflict those who are your brothers in the world10But the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself perfect, confirm, and establish us, after a brief time of suffering11To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen12I have written briefly, through Sylvanus, whom I consider to be a faithful brother to you, begging and testifying that this is the true grace of God, in which you have been established13The Church which is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you, as does my son, Mark14Greet one another with a holy kiss. Grace be to all of you who are in Christ Jesus. Amen
Mark
15And he said to them: "Go forth to the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature16Whoever will have believed and been baptized will be saved. Yet truly, whoever will not have believed will be condemned17Now these signs will accompany those who believe. In my name, they shall cast out demons. They will speak in new languages18They will take up serpents, and, if they drink anything deadly, it will not harm them. They shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they will be well.19And indeed, the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and he sits at the right hand of God20Then they, setting out, preached everywhere, with the Lord cooperating and confirming the word by the accompanying signs
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the call to live as humble and courageous disciples of Christ. In the first reading from 1 Peter, we are reminded to clothe ourselves in humility and to cast all our anxieties on God, for he cares for us. Peter encourages us to remain vigilant and to resist the devil, who seeks to devour the unwary. He assures us that our sufferings are temporary and that God, the giver of all grace, will perfect and establish us in his eternal glory. The letter concludes with a greeting from the Church in Babylon and a reminder that we are all part of one body in Christ.
In the Gospel, Mark recounts the final commission of Jesus to his disciples before his ascension. Jesus commands them to "go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature." This mission is not without its challenges, but Jesus assures them that signs will accompany those who believe—casting out demons, speaking new languages, and healing the sick. The Gospel ends with the disciples setting out to preach everywhere, with the Lord himself confirming the word through the signs that follow.
These readings are deeply connected. Both emphasize the call to trust in God’s providence and to live out our faith with courage and humility. Peter reminds us that our struggles are not unique and that we are part of a larger community of believers. Mark’s Gospel, on the other hand, calls us to action—preaching the Gospel and living out our faith in a way that reflects the power and love of Christ. Together, they remind us that we are called to be both steadfast in our faith and proactive in sharing it with others.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we live out our faith in the midst of challenges? Do we approach life with the humility and trust that Peter encourages, or do we allow fear and arrogance to guide us? The Gospel reminds us that we are not alone in this mission; Christ is always with us, confirming the word through the signs of his presence in our lives. Let us strive to be humble, courageous, and faithful disciples, trusting in God’s grace and living out our call to share the Good News with the world.