Daily Readings - Wed May 29 2024

¹⁸For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,¹⁹but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.²⁰He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.²¹Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.²²Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.²³For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.²⁴For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,²⁵but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.

Mark

Chapter 10

³²They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.³³"We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles,³⁴who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise."³⁵Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."³⁶"What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.³⁷They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."³⁸"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"³⁹"We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,⁴⁰but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."⁴¹When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.⁴²Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.⁴³Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,⁴⁴and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.⁴⁵For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Sermon

In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice and the call to live a life of humble service. The first reading from 1 Peter reminds us that our redemption comes not through earthly wealth or power, but through the precious blood of Christ, who was foreknown before the foundation of the world. Peter urges us to live out our faith with obedience, love, and hope, knowing that we are born anew through the Word of God, which endures forever. This passage encourages us to move beyond fleeting earthly concerns and to root our lives in the eternal Word of God. The Gospel from Mark complements this message by highlighting Jesus' prediction of his Passion and his teaching on true greatness. As Jesus journeys to Jerusalem, he reveals the cost of discipleship and overturns the worldly ambition of James and John, who seek positions of power. Jesus teaches that leadership in his kingdom is not about dominance but about service. He calls his followers to embrace humility and to serve one another, just as he came "to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." This teaching challenges us to examine our own motivations and to seek greatness in selflessness rather than status. These readings remind us that our faith is not about personal gain or comfort but about living in the light of Christ's sacrifice and embracing a life of love and service. In our daily lives, we are called to imitate Christ by putting others first, whether in small acts of kindness or in larger commitments to justice and compassion. Let us ask ourselves: Am I living as a servant of others? Am I willing to embrace the cross of Christ in my own life? May we find the courage to follow Jesus on the path of humility and love, knowing that true fulfillment comes not from earthly power but from living in accordance with the eternal Word of God.