Daily Readings - Mon Feb 28 2022

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 are invited to reflect on the nature of faith and trust in God. The first reading from 1 Peter reminds us that our faith is a living hope, born from the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It encourages us to endure trials with joy, knowing that our inheritance in heaven is incorruptible. This passage emphasizes perseverance and hope, urging us to trust in God's plan despite life's challenges. The Gospel from Mark presents a rich young man who seeks eternal life. Jesus challenges him to move beyond outward obedience to the commandments, asking him to detach from his wealth. This encounter highlights the difficulty of entering the kingdom of God when we are attached to material possessions. It teaches us that true faith requires trust in God's providence over worldly security. Together, these readings remind us that faith is not just about enduring trials but also about trusting God more than our possessions. In daily life, this means facing challenges with hope and letting go of attachments that hinder our relationship with God. The moral lesson is clear: true life comes from God, not from our circumstances or possessions. Let us trust in His plan and find joy in our faith, knowing that with God, all things are possible.