Daily Readings - Wed May 30 2018
1 Peter
18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Mark
32And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,33Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:34And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.35And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.36And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?37They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.38But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?39And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:40But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.41And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.42But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.43But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:44And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.45For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of sacrifice, service, and the true meaning of discipleship. In the first reading from 1 Peter, we are reminded 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 emphasizes that our faith and hope are rooted in God, and we are called to live out this faith in love and obedience, being born anew through the Word of God, which endures forever. This passage encourages us to focus on what is eternal rather than what is fleeting.
In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus on the way to Jerusalem, where he predicts his passion and death. Despite the fear and astonishment of his disciples, Jesus teaches them about the true nature of leadership. When James and John ask to sit at his side in glory, Jesus challenges them to consider the cost of following him. He explains that true greatness is not about power or status but about serving others. Jesus himself came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. This teaching is a direct rebuke to the worldly understanding of authority and calls his followers to embrace humility and selflessness.
These readings are deeply connected, as they both point to the heart of the Christian life: sacrifice and service. Peter reminds us that our ultimate hope is in God, and Jesus shows us that this hope is lived out in loving service to others. In a world that often values power and prestige, these readings challenge us to reorient our lives. Let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to embrace the sacrifices that come with following Christ? Are we serving others with humility and love? May we, like Christ, find our true greatness in giving ourselves for the sake of others, and may we always remember that our redemption and hope are found in the enduring Word of God.