Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: May 30, 2024

Date: Thursday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time  

Scripture Text:  1 Peter 2:2-5, 9-12

Beloved:

Like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk so that through it you may grow into salvation, for you have tasted that the Lord is good. Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,

a holy nation, a people of his own,

so that you may announce the praises of him

who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Once you were no people

but now you are God’s people;

you had not received mercy

but now you have received mercy.

Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojourners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against the soul. Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that if they speak of you as evildoers, they may observe your good works and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The first reading for today comes from the 1st Letter of Peter. Peter urges readers to long for the salvation of the LORD in Christ. He implores us to open ourselves to the LORD’s will for us that we may become the people of the LORD who not only walk in the LORD’s light but who bring His light to others through our good works and words.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I crave deep within me the LORD? Do I beg the LORD for guidance and grace so I might become the one I am created and called to be?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You sent your only begotten Son to be our brother, to take on our human nature, and as one of us, to atone for our sins and to conquer sin and death through His selfless sacrifice for love of You and love of us. Send your Spirit to fill our minds and hearts with such selfless love as your Son calls us to bear for You and for one another. Grant that we may grow into your people, accepting and embracing salvation from You, through Christ, in the Spirit. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.