Daily Readings - Mon May 27 2024

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has regenerated us into a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead⁴unto an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance, which is reserved for you in heaven⁵By the power of God, you are guarded through faith for a salvation which is ready to be revealed in the end time⁶In this, you should exult, if now, for a brief time, it is necessary to be made sorrowful by various trials⁷so that the testing of your faith, which is much more precious than gold tested by fire, may be found in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ⁸For though you have not seen him, you love him. In him also, though you do not see him, you now believe. And in believing, you shall exult with an inexpressible and glorious joy⁹returning with the goal of your faith, the salvation of souls

Mark

Chapter 10

¹⁷And when he had departed on the way, a certain one, running up and kneeling before him, asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do, so that I may secure eternal life?¹⁸But Jesus said to him, "Why call me good? No one is good except the one God¹⁹You know the precepts: "Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not speak false testimony. Do not deceive. Honor your father and mother.²⁰But in response, he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.²¹Then Jesus, gazing at him, loved him, and he said to him: "One thing is lacking to you. Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.²²But he went away grieving, having been greatly saddened by the word. For he had many possessions²³And Jesus, looking around, said to his disciples, "How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!²⁴And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus, answering again, said to them: "Little sons, how difficult it is for those who trust in money to enter into the kingdom of God²⁵It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for the rich to enter into the kingdom of God.²⁶And they wondered even more, saying among themselves, "Who, then, can be saved?²⁷And Jesus, gazing at them, said: "With men it is impossible; but not with God. For with God all things are possible.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect deeply on our faith and commitment to following Christ. The first reading from 1 Peter reminds us of the hope we have in Christ, a hope that transcends the trials and challenges of this life. Peter encourages us to endure these trials with joy, knowing that our faith is being purified and will ultimately lead to salvation. The second reading from Mark’s Gospel presents us with the story of the rich young man who approaches Jesus seeking eternal life. Jesus challenges him to let go of his possessions and follow Him, but the man, attached to his wealth, walks away sorrowfully. Jesus then remarks on how difficult it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God, emphasizing that true salvation is possible only through God’s power. These readings are deeply connected. Peter’s letter speaks to the universal Christian experience of living in hope despite trials, while Mark’s Gospel provides a specific example of what it means to follow Christ wholeheartedly. The rich young man represents all of us who may be attached to the comforts and securities of this world. Jesus’ words are not a condemnation of wealth itself but a call to recognize that true treasure lies in heaven, not on earth. The challenge for us is to examine our own attachments and to trust in God’s providence, knowing that He alone can bring about our salvation. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: What are the “possessions” in our lives that prevent us from fully following Christ? It may not be wealth, but perhaps comfort, fear, or pride. Let us strive to live with detachment, trusting in God’s plan and finding joy in the hope of eternal life. May we, like the early Christians, endure trials with faith and perseverance, knowing that our ultimate inheritance is reserved for us in heaven. Let us also remember that salvation is not something we can achieve on our own but is a gift that comes from God’s grace and power.