Daily Readings - Mon May 27 2024

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 encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect deeply on our faith and commitment to following Christ. The first reading from 1 Peter reminds us of the hope we have in Christ, a hope that transcends the trials and challenges of this life. Peter encourages us to endure these trials with joy, knowing that our faith is being purified and will ultimately lead to salvation. The second reading from Mark’s Gospel presents us with the story of the rich young man who approaches Jesus seeking eternal life. Jesus challenges him to let go of his possessions and follow Him, but the man, attached to his wealth, walks away sorrowfully. Jesus then remarks on how difficult it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God, emphasizing that true salvation is possible only through God’s power. These readings are deeply connected. Peter’s letter speaks to the universal Christian experience of living in hope despite trials, while Mark’s Gospel provides a specific example of what it means to follow Christ wholeheartedly. The rich young man represents all of us who may be attached to the comforts and securities of this world. Jesus’ words are not a condemnation of wealth itself but a call to recognize that true treasure lies in heaven, not on earth. The challenge for us is to examine our own attachments and to trust in God’s providence, knowing that He alone can bring about our salvation. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: What are the “possessions” in our lives that prevent us from fully following Christ? It may not be wealth, but perhaps comfort, fear, or pride. Let us strive to live with detachment, trusting in God’s plan and finding joy in the hope of eternal life. May we, like the early Christians, endure trials with faith and perseverance, knowing that our ultimate inheritance is reserved for us in heaven. Let us also remember that salvation is not something we can achieve on our own but is a gift that comes from God’s grace and power.