Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: April 25, 2024

Date:  Thursday of the 4th Week of Easter / Feast of Mark the Evangelist

Scripture Text:  1 Pt 5:5b-14

Beloved:    Clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for: God opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble.

So, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.

Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your brothers and sisters throughout the world undergo the same sufferings. The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little. To him be dominion forever.  Amen.

I write you this briefly through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, exhorting you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Remain firm in it. The chosen one at Babylon sends you greeting, as does Mark, my son. Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The first reading for today is taken from the concluding passages of the 1st Letter of Peter. In these few lines, Peter lays out for the faithful how to conduct themselves: with humility and with vigilance. Peter reminds us, his readers, that evil is afoot around us, but we must resist by remaining steadfast in faith. He reminds us of our hope in Christ who will “restore, confirm, strengthen and establish us” in His time. Peter pleads with the faithful to remain firm in their faith before sending greeting from the Christian community in Rome (the chosen one at Babylon). Peter reminds all that we are to be loving toward one another. He ends with a prayer of peace for all who truly are in Christ.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I seek to practice humility in all my relationships? With others? With the LORD? Am I vigilant about my faith and pursing “the Way” as mapped out by Christ through his words and deeds?  

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Holy Spirit, we come to You this day in all humility, under You and responsive to your will for us. Through your grace may we rightly discern your will and vigilantly work toward realizing it in our lives and in our world. Help us to endure the hard times, tribulations, and trials with the hope we hold in your promises to us. Grant that we will remain firm in our faith, buoyant in our hope, and instruments of your will through our love for You and one another. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.