Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 25, 2024
First Reading: 1 Peter 5.5b-14
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.
Psalm 89
1I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.2For I said, "Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness."3You have said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant:4'I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.'" Selah5Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!6For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,7a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him?8O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you?9You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.10You crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.11The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.12The north and the south, you have created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.13You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand.14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.15Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face,16who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted.17For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted.18For our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.19Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one, and said: "I have granted help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people.20I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him,21so that my hand shall be established with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.22The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him.23I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.24My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted.25I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.26He shall cry to me, 'You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.'27And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.28My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him.29I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens.30If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules,31if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments,32then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes,33but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness.34I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.35Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David.36His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me.37Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies." Selah38But now you have cast off and rejected; you are full of wrath against your anointed.39You have renounced the covenant with your servant; you have defiled his crown in the dust.40You have breached all his walls; you have laid his strongholds in ruins.41All who pass by plunder him; he has become the scorn of his neighbors.42You have exalted the right hand of his foes; you have made all his enemies rejoice.43You have also turned back the edge of his sword, and you have not made him stand in battle.44You have made his splendor to cease and cast his throne to the ground.45You have cut short the days of his youth; you have covered him with shame. Selah46How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire?47Remember how short my time is! For what vanity you have created all the children of man!48What man can live and never see death? Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah49Lord, where is your steadfast love of old, which by your faithfulness you swore to David?50Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked, and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations,51with which your enemies mock, O LORD, with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed.52Blessed be the LORD forever! Amen and Amen.
Gospel: Mark 16.15-20
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the call to live as humble and courageous disciples of Christ. In the first reading from 1 Peter, we are reminded to clothe ourselves in humility and to cast all our anxieties on God, for he cares for us. Peter encourages us to remain vigilant and to resist the devil, who seeks to devour the unwary. He assures us that our sufferings are temporary and that God, the giver of all grace, will perfect and establish us in his eternal glory. The letter concludes with a greeting from the Church in Babylon and a reminder that we are all part of one body in Christ.
In the Gospel, Mark recounts the final commission of Jesus to his disciples before his ascension. Jesus commands them to "go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature." This mission is not without its challenges, but Jesus assures them that signs will accompany those who believe—casting out demons, speaking new languages, and healing the sick. The Gospel ends with the disciples setting out to preach everywhere, with the Lord himself confirming the word through the signs that follow.
These readings are deeply connected. Both emphasize the call to trust in God’s providence and to live out our faith with courage and humility. Peter reminds us that our struggles are not unique and that we are part of a larger community of believers. Mark’s Gospel, on the other hand, calls us to action—preaching the Gospel and living out our faith in a way that reflects the power and love of Christ. Together, they remind us that we are called to be both steadfast in our faith and proactive in sharing it with others.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we live out our faith in the midst of challenges? Do we approach life with the humility and trust that Peter encourages, or do we allow fear and arrogance to guide us? The Gospel reminds us that we are not alone in this mission; Christ is always with us, confirming the word through the signs of his presence in our lives. Let us strive to be humble, courageous, and faithful disciples, trusting in God’s grace and living out our call to share the Good News with the world.