Daily Readings - Fri Jun 01 2018
1 Peter
7The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.8Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.9Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.10As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:11whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.13But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
Mark
11And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.12On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.13And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.14And he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it.15And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.16And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.17And he was teaching them and saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers."18And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching.19And when evening came they went out of the city.20As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.21And Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered."22And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.23Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.25And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the call to live with purpose, faith, and love. In the first reading from 1 Peter, we are reminded that the end of all things is near, urging us to be prudent and vigilant in prayer. Peter emphasizes the importance of mutual love and hospitality, encouraging us to use the gifts we have received to serve one another. This passage is set against the backdrop of early Christian communities facing persecution, encouraging believers to remain steadfast in their faith and to live virtuously, knowing that their actions have eternal significance.
In the Gospel, Mark presents two powerful scenes: Jesus cleansing the temple and the withering of the fig tree. Jesus’ actions in the temple are a bold declaration of his authority and a call to purity of heart. The fig tree, which bears leaves but no fruit, serves as a parable about the kind of faith that is barren and unproductive. Jesus teaches that true faith is not just about outward appearances but about trusting in God’s power and aligning our wills with His. The withered fig tree becomes a lesson in the transformative power of faith and the importance of bearing spiritual fruit.
These readings are deeply connected. Peter’s call to hospitality and stewardship of God’s grace is mirrored in Jesus’ teaching on faith and the need to bear fruit. Both readings challenge us to examine our lives and ensure that our actions reflect our commitment to God. In our daily lives, we are called to be hospitable, to love without complaint, and to trust in God’s providence, even when circumstances seem uncertain. The moral lesson is clear: our faith must be active, rooted in love, and fruitful in service to others. Let us strive to live in such a way that our lives honor God and inspire others to do the same.