Daily Readings - Tue Apr 25 2023
1 Peter
5Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."6Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,7casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.8Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.9Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.10And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.11To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.12By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.13She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.14Greet one another with the kiss of love.Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Mark
15And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.17And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;18they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."19So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.20And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the call to humility and trust in God’s providence, as well as the mission to share the Good News with the world. The first reading from 1 Peter encourages us to embrace humility and cast our cares upon God, for He is our loving Father who takes care of us. Peter also warns us to be vigilant, for the devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking to devour the weak. Yet, we are not alone in this struggle; we are strengthened by the same grace of God that sustains our brothers and sisters in faith. The reading concludes with a greeting from the early Christian community, reminding us that we are part of a universal family united in Christ.
The Gospel from Mark takes us to the moment after Jesus’ resurrection, where He commissions His disciples to “go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” This is the Great Commission, a call to share the love and salvation of Christ with all people. The signs that accompany believers—such as healing the sick and casting out demons—are not ends in themselves but testimonies to the power of God’s word. The reading ends with the ascension of Jesus, who now sits at the right hand of the Father, and the disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit, going forth to fulfill their mission.
These readings are deeply connected. In 1 Peter, we are called to humility and trust in God’s care, while in Mark, we are called to boldness in sharing the Gospel. Together, they remind us that our faith is both personal and communal, requiring us to rely on God’s grace while also taking an active role in spreading His love. In our daily lives, we are invited to embrace humility, trust in God’s providence, and courageously share the Good News with others. Let us ask ourselves: How can I live with greater humility and trust in God’s plan? How can I bear witness to Christ’s love in my words and actions today? May we, like the early disciples, allow the Lord to work through us, that His glory may be revealed in all we do.