Daily Readings - Sat Apr 25 2020
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 hear from 1 Peter and the Gospel of Mark, both of which offer profound insights into the Christian life. The first reading from 1 Peter encourages believers to embrace humility and trust in God's providence, especially in the face of challenges. Peter reminds us that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, urging us to cast our anxieties on Him. The passage also warns us to be vigilant against the devil, who seeks to devour the faithful, and assures us that our suffering is temporary, leading to eternal glory.
In the Gospel, Mark recounts Jesus' final command to the disciples before His ascension. Jesus commissions them to preach the Gospel to all creation, promising salvation to those who believe and are baptized. He also assures them that signs will accompany their missionary efforts, such as healing the sick and casting out demons. This passage emphasizes the universal scope of the Gospel and the transformative power of faith.
Together, these readings remind us that our faith is both a personal and communal journey. Peter's letter calls us to humility and trust in God's care, while Mark's Gospel challenges us to share the Good News boldly. In our daily lives, we are invited to live with humility, trusting that God will lift us up in His time. At the same time, we are called to be witnesses of Christ's love, trusting that He will empower us to fulfill our mission. May we embrace both the humility and the boldness required to live out our faith authentically, knowing that God's grace will sustain us every step of the way.