Daily Readings - Thu May 30 2024
1 Peter
2Like newborn infants, desire the milk of reasonableness without guile, so that by this you may increase unto salvation3if it is true that you have tasted that the Lord is sweet4And approaching him as if he were a living stone, rejected by men, certainly, but elect and honored by God5be also yourselves like living stones, built upon him, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, so as to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ9But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, an acquired people, so that you may announce the virtues of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light10Though in past times you were not a people, yet now you are the people of God. Though you had not obtained mercy, yet now you have obtained mercy11Most beloved, I beg you, as new arrivals and sojourners, to abstain from carnal desires, which battle against the soul12Keep your behavior among the Gentiles to what is good, so that, when they slander you as if you were evildoers, they may, by the good works that are seen in you, glorify God on the day of visitation
Mark
46And they went to Jericho. And as he was setting out from Jericho with his disciples and a very numerous multitude, Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, a blind man, sat begging beside the way47And when he had heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and to say, "Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me.48And many admonished him to be quiet. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, take pity on me.49And Jesus, standing still, instructed him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying to him: "Be at peace. Arise. He is calling you.50And casting aside his garment, he leapt up and went to him51And in response, Jesus said to him, "What do you want, that I should do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, that I may see.52Then Jesus said to him, "Go, your faith has made you whole." And immediately he saw, and he followed him on the way
Sermon
The first reading from 1 Peter reminds us of our identity as followers of Christ. We are called to be like living stones, built upon the foundation of Jesus, forming a spiritual house and a holy priesthood. This passage emphasizes that we are a chosen people, called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light. It urges us to live virtuous lives, abstaining from worldly desires, and to conduct ourselves in such a way that our good works may silence the slander of those who do not understand us. We are to be a people of mercy and grace, reflecting God’s love in all that we do.
The Gospel from Mark tells the story of Bartimaeus, a blind man who cried out to Jesus for healing. Despite the crowds trying to silence him, Bartimaeus persisted in his plea for mercy. Jesus stopped, called him forward, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus’ response was simple: “Master, I want to see.” Jesus, moved by his faith, restored his sight, and Bartimaeus followed him on the way. This passage highlights the power of faith and the importance of perseverance in prayer. It also reminds us that true sight goes beyond the physical; it is the ability to see the world and ourselves through the eyes of faith.
Both readings invite us to reflect on how we see ourselves and our place in the world. In 1 Peter, we are reminded that we are part of a spiritual community, called to live as a holy priesthood. In Mark, Bartimaeus’ story shows us that faith can open our eyes to new possibilities and deepen our relationship with God. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living as the chosen people God has called us to be? Are we using our spiritual sight to see the needs of others and to glorify God in all we do? May we, like Bartimaeus, cry out for healing and may our faith lead us to follow Jesus more closely each day.