Daily Readings - Fri Jun 01 2018
1 Peter
7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Mark
11Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.12The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.13Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.14Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.15On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,16and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.17And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"18The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.19When evening came, they went out of the city.20In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.21Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"22"Have faith in God," Jesus answered.23"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the call to live with purpose, faith, and love. In the first reading from 1 Peter, we are reminded that the end of all things is near, urging us to be prudent and vigilant in prayer. Peter emphasizes the importance of mutual love and hospitality, encouraging us to use the gifts we have received to serve one another. This passage is set against the backdrop of early Christian communities facing persecution, encouraging believers to remain steadfast in their faith and to live virtuously, knowing that their actions have eternal significance.
In the Gospel, Mark presents two powerful scenes: Jesus cleansing the temple and the withering of the fig tree. Jesus’ actions in the temple are a bold declaration of his authority and a call to purity of heart. The fig tree, which bears leaves but no fruit, serves as a parable about the kind of faith that is barren and unproductive. Jesus teaches that true faith is not just about outward appearances but about trusting in God’s power and aligning our wills with His. The withered fig tree becomes a lesson in the transformative power of faith and the importance of bearing spiritual fruit.
These readings are deeply connected. Peter’s call to hospitality and stewardship of God’s grace is mirrored in Jesus’ teaching on faith and the need to bear fruit. Both readings challenge us to examine our lives and ensure that our actions reflect our commitment to God. In our daily lives, we are called to be hospitable, to love without complaint, and to trust in God’s providence, even when circumstances seem uncertain. The moral lesson is clear: our faith must be active, rooted in love, and fruitful in service to others. Let us strive to live in such a way that our lives honor God and inspire others to do the same.