Daily Readings - Tue May 28 2024

¹⁰Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,¹¹trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.¹²It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.¹³Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.¹⁴As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.¹⁵But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;¹⁶for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Mark

Chapter 10

²⁸Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!"²⁹"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel³⁰will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.³¹But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

Sermon

In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of sacrifice, faith, and the call to holiness. The first reading from 1 Peter reminds us that the prophets of old sought to understand the salvation we now know through Christ. Their ministry, though not for their own benefit, laid the groundwork for the Gospel we preach today. Peter urges us to live with minds girded for action, hoping in the grace revealed through Jesus, and to be holy as God is holy. The Gospel from Mark presents a conversation where Peter highlights the sacrifices made by the disciples, leaving behind all they had to follow Jesus. Jesus assures them that their sacrifices will be abundantly rewarded, both in this life and the next. However, He also reminds us that the first will be last and the last first, challenging our notions of status and reward. These readings intertwine the call to live sacrificially and pursue holiness. In our daily lives, this means prioritizing our faith in our decisions and actions. We can apply this by embracing challenges as opportunities to grow closer to God and serving others selflessly. The moral lesson here is one of trust and integrity—trusting in God's plan and living in a way that reflects His holiness. Let us strive to live with purpose and integrity, knowing that our sacrifices contribute to a greater purpose.