Daily Readings - Thu Apr 25 2024
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
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.