Daily Readings - Wed May 29 2024

¹⁸knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,¹⁹but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.²⁰He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake,²¹who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.²²Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,²³since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;²⁴for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,²⁵but the word of the Lord remains forever."And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Mark

Chapter 10

³²And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him,³³saying, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles.³⁴And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise."³⁵And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."³⁶And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?"³⁷And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory."³⁸Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"³⁹And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized,⁴⁰but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared."⁴¹And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John.⁴²And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.⁴³But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,⁴⁴and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.⁴⁵For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Sermon

In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice and the call to live a life of humble service. The first reading from 1 Peter reminds us that our redemption comes not through earthly wealth or power, but through the precious blood of Christ, who was foreknown before the foundation of the world. Peter urges us to live out our faith with obedience, love, and hope, knowing that we are born anew through the Word of God, which endures forever. This passage encourages us to move beyond fleeting earthly concerns and to root our lives in the eternal Word of God. The Gospel from Mark complements this message by highlighting Jesus' prediction of his Passion and his teaching on true greatness. As Jesus journeys to Jerusalem, he reveals the cost of discipleship and overturns the worldly ambition of James and John, who seek positions of power. Jesus teaches that leadership in his kingdom is not about dominance but about service. He calls his followers to embrace humility and to serve one another, just as he came "to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." This teaching challenges us to examine our own motivations and to seek greatness in selflessness rather than status. These readings remind us that our faith is not about personal gain or comfort but about living in the light of Christ's sacrifice and embracing a life of love and service. In our daily lives, we are called to imitate Christ by putting others first, whether in small acts of kindness or in larger commitments to justice and compassion. Let us ask ourselves: Am I living as a servant of others? Am I willing to embrace the cross of Christ in my own life? May we find the courage to follow Jesus on the path of humility and love, knowing that true fulfillment comes not from earthly power but from living in accordance with the eternal Word of God.