Daily Readings - Tue Apr 25 2023
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 are reminded of the call to humility and trust in God’s providence, as well as the mission to share the Good News with the world. The first reading from 1 Peter encourages us to embrace humility and cast our cares upon God, for He is our loving Father who takes care of us. Peter also warns us to be vigilant, for the devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking to devour the weak. Yet, we are not alone in this struggle; we are strengthened by the same grace of God that sustains our brothers and sisters in faith. The reading concludes with a greeting from the early Christian community, reminding us that we are part of a universal family united in Christ.
The Gospel from Mark takes us to the moment after Jesus’ resurrection, where He commissions His disciples to “go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” This is the Great Commission, a call to share the love and salvation of Christ with all people. The signs that accompany believers—such as healing the sick and casting out demons—are not ends in themselves but testimonies to the power of God’s word. The reading ends with the ascension of Jesus, who now sits at the right hand of the Father, and the disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit, going forth to fulfill their mission.
These readings are deeply connected. In 1 Peter, we are called to humility and trust in God’s care, while in Mark, we are called to boldness in sharing the Gospel. Together, they remind us that our faith is both personal and communal, requiring us to rely on God’s grace while also taking an active role in spreading His love. In our daily lives, we are invited to embrace humility, trust in God’s providence, and courageously share the Good News with others. Let us ask ourselves: How can I live with greater humility and trust in God’s plan? How can I bear witness to Christ’s love in my words and actions today? May we, like the early disciples, allow the Lord to work through us, that His glory may be revealed in all we do.