The Feast of Saint Mark | Thursday 25 April 2024

Today is Thursday 25 April, the feast of Saint Mark, in the 4th week of Eastertide.

IAMSON sings, ‘Always With Me’.

I can make through the day
When you're with me on the way
In my heart and mind you'll stay
I can make it through the night
When I'm clinging to your light
You will make the darkness bright
For you are always, always with me
For you are always, always with me
In the calm and in the storm
When it seems I'm all alone
It's your hand I find to hold
In each hour of unrest
When it seems I've nothing left
You speak peace in every breath
For you are always, always with me
For you are always, always with me
In the morning, in the evening
When I'm waking, when I'm sleeping
When I'm arriving, when I'm leaving
You will have me in your keeping
Even from my mothers womb
Never hidden from your view
I was always known to you
When I fade away in death
You will catch my final breath
You will take me to my rest
For you are always, always with me
For you are alway, always with me

Today’s reading is from the First Letter of Peter.

1 Peter 5:5b-11

And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Has this been your experience? Can you think of any time when you humbled yourself and found grace through that?

Are there any situations you face now where you are tempted towards pride, or where you can see an invitation from God to “clothe yourself in humility”?

As this passage is read again, listen to the promise of what the God of all grace will do for you.

“Cast all your anxiety on him,” the scripture says, “because he cares for you.” What particular anxieties are troubling you now that you can place in God’s hands? Why not do that, now?

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.