Daily Readings - Wed Apr 25 2018
1 Peter
5Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.12With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.14Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Mark
15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."19After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.20Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore themes of humility, trust in God, and the call to share the Gospel. The first reading from 1 Peter encourages believers to embrace humility and cast their cares on God, trusting in His providence. It reminds us that while we face challenges, including the devil's temptations, God's grace will sustain and strengthen us. The second reading from Mark's Gospel is the Great Commission, where Jesus commands His disciples to spread the Gospel to all creation, promising that signs of faith will accompany their efforts, such as healing and casting out demons.
The context of 1 Peter is likely a time of persecution for early Christians, urging them to remain steadfast and humble. Mark's passage concludes his Gospel, emphasizing the disciples' mission post-resurrection. Together, these readings highlight the dual aspects of Christian life: internal virtues like humility and trust, and external actions like preaching and ministering.
Applying this to our lives, we are called to remain humble and trust God with our anxieties, while actively sharing our faith. The moral lesson is clear: a balanced Christian life combines inner humility with outward action. Let us embrace both, trusting God's grace and actively spreading His love, just as the early disciples did.