Daily Readings - Mon May 28 2018

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,⁴to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,⁵who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.⁶In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,⁷so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.⁸Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,⁹obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Mark

Chapter 10

¹⁷And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"¹⁸And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.¹⁹You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'"²⁰And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth."²¹And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."²²Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.²³And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!"²⁴And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!²⁵It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."²⁶And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?"²⁷Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God."

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from 1 Peter reminds us of the hope we have through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It encourages us to rejoice even amidst trials, as these trials refine our faith, making it as precious as gold. This hope is not fleeting; it is secured in heaven, promising us an incorruptible inheritance. Peter's words are a comfort to early Christians facing persecution, urging them to remain steadfast in their faith. The Gospel from Mark presents a man who, in pursuit of eternal life, is challenged by Jesus to let go of his wealth. Despite keeping the commandments, the man is unable to part with his possessions, highlighting the struggle between material attachment and spiritual devotion. Jesus' teachings emphasize that wealth can be a significant barrier to entering the kingdom of God, a truth that astonishes His disciples. Yet, Jesus offers hope by reminding them that while this may be impossible for humans, it is possible with God. These readings relate by emphasizing trust in God's plan. Peter's hope through trials and Jesus' challenge to the wealthy man both call us to trust in God's power. In our daily lives, we face various trials and attachments that test our faith. The moral lesson is clear: faith requires us to trust in God, even when it means letting go of what is comfortable or secure. With God, all things are possible, and our trust in Him will lead us to true joy and salvation. Let us embrace this hope and trust, allowing our faith to guide us through life's challenges.