Daily Readings - Thu Apr 25 2024
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the call to live as humble and courageous disciples of Christ. In the first reading from 1 Peter, we are reminded to clothe ourselves in humility and to cast all our anxieties on God, for he cares for us. Peter encourages us to remain vigilant and to resist the devil, who seeks to devour the unwary. He assures us that our sufferings are temporary and that God, the giver of all grace, will perfect and establish us in his eternal glory. The letter concludes with a greeting from the Church in Babylon and a reminder that we are all part of one body in Christ.
In the Gospel, Mark recounts the final commission of Jesus to his disciples before his ascension. Jesus commands them to "go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature." This mission is not without its challenges, but Jesus assures them that signs will accompany those who believe—casting out demons, speaking new languages, and healing the sick. The Gospel ends with the disciples setting out to preach everywhere, with the Lord himself confirming the word through the signs that follow.
These readings are deeply connected. Both emphasize the call to trust in God’s providence and to live out our faith with courage and humility. Peter reminds us that our struggles are not unique and that we are part of a larger community of believers. Mark’s Gospel, on the other hand, calls us to action—preaching the Gospel and living out our faith in a way that reflects the power and love of Christ. Together, they remind us that we are called to be both steadfast in our faith and proactive in sharing it with others.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we live out our faith in the midst of challenges? Do we approach life with the humility and trust that Peter encourages, or do we allow fear and arrogance to guide us? The Gospel reminds us that we are not alone in this mission; Christ is always with us, confirming the word through the signs of his presence in our lives. Let us strive to be humble, courageous, and faithful disciples, trusting in God’s grace and living out our call to share the Good News with the world.