Daily Readings - Tue May 28 2024

¹⁰Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:¹¹Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.¹²Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.¹³Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;¹⁴As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:¹⁵But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;¹⁶Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Mark

Chapter 10

²⁸Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.²⁹And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,³⁰But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.³¹But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

Sermon

In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of sacrifice, faith, and the call to holiness. The first reading from 1 Peter reminds us that the prophets of old sought to understand the salvation we now know through Christ. Their ministry, though not for their own benefit, laid the groundwork for the Gospel we preach today. Peter urges us to live with minds girded for action, hoping in the grace revealed through Jesus, and to be holy as God is holy. The Gospel from Mark presents a conversation where Peter highlights the sacrifices made by the disciples, leaving behind all they had to follow Jesus. Jesus assures them that their sacrifices will be abundantly rewarded, both in this life and the next. However, He also reminds us that the first will be last and the last first, challenging our notions of status and reward. These readings intertwine the call to live sacrificially and pursue holiness. In our daily lives, this means prioritizing our faith in our decisions and actions. We can apply this by embracing challenges as opportunities to grow closer to God and serving others selflessly. The moral lesson here is one of trust and integrity—trusting in God's plan and living in a way that reflects His holiness. Let us strive to live with purpose and integrity, knowing that our sacrifices contribute to a greater purpose.