Daily Readings - Tue Apr 25 2023
1 Peter
5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.10But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.11To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.12By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.13The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.14Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Mark
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.19So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.20And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the call to humility and trust in God’s providence, as well as the mission to share the Good News with the world. The first reading from 1 Peter encourages us to embrace humility and cast our cares upon God, for He is our loving Father who takes care of us. Peter also warns us to be vigilant, for the devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking to devour the weak. Yet, we are not alone in this struggle; we are strengthened by the same grace of God that sustains our brothers and sisters in faith. The reading concludes with a greeting from the early Christian community, reminding us that we are part of a universal family united in Christ.
The Gospel from Mark takes us to the moment after Jesus’ resurrection, where He commissions His disciples to “go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” This is the Great Commission, a call to share the love and salvation of Christ with all people. The signs that accompany believers—such as healing the sick and casting out demons—are not ends in themselves but testimonies to the power of God’s word. The reading ends with the ascension of Jesus, who now sits at the right hand of the Father, and the disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit, going forth to fulfill their mission.
These readings are deeply connected. In 1 Peter, we are called to humility and trust in God’s care, while in Mark, we are called to boldness in sharing the Gospel. Together, they remind us that our faith is both personal and communal, requiring us to rely on God’s grace while also taking an active role in spreading His love. In our daily lives, we are invited to embrace humility, trust in God’s providence, and courageously share the Good News with others. Let us ask ourselves: How can I live with greater humility and trust in God’s plan? How can I bear witness to Christ’s love in my words and actions today? May we, like the early disciples, allow the Lord to work through us, that His glory may be revealed in all we do.