Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 30, 2018
First Reading: 1 Peter 1.18-25
18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.24For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,25but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.
Psalm 147
1Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!2The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.3He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.4He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.5Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.6The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.7Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.8He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.9He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.10His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man;11the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.12Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion,13for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you.14He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.15He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.16He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.17He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?18He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.19He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.20He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD.
Gospel: Mark 10.32-45
32They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.33"We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles,34who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise."35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."36"What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.37They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."38"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"39"We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,40but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."41When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.42Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as 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.