Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark (54-68).
Polyeleos Feast.
Acts 10:34-43. 1 Peter 5:6-14. John 8:12-20. Mark 6:7-13.
Read Acts 10:34-43
Christ is risen! Truly, he is risen!
Today we read an account of what Peter once preached to the Gentiles when the Holy Spirit descended upon them. Peter preached that Jesus is the Lord of all. In His life, Jesus did good and healed all who were oppressed by the devil. He was crucified, rose from the dead on the third day, ate and drank with His disciples after rising from the dead, and commanded His disciples to preach to the entire world. Jesus will be the Judge of the living and the dead, and “through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).
In his speech, Peter says that “in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:35). Jesus came not only to save the Jews but every nation, all of humanity. We are justified by faith, but not by faith alone (see Jam. 2:24). Our works are important too because “faith without works is dead” (Jam. 2:20). In addition to having faith in Jesus Christ, we need to live following His commandments. We need to love one another as He has loved us (see Jn. 15:12). We need to forgive those who have trespassed against us (see Mt. 6:15). We need to “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt. 4:17). We need to do the will of His Father in heaven (see Mt. 7:21). We need to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, take in strangers, clothe the naked, visit the sick and those in prison, for whatever we do to the “least of these,” we have done it for Christ (see Mt. 25:37-40). We need to deny ourselves, take up our cross every day and follow after Jesus (see Lk. 9:23).
Saying “Lord, Lord” to Jesus is not a “free pass” to gain entry into the Kingdom of Heaven (see Mt. 7:21). Faith in Christ is a gift offered to us. God gives us His grace and the Gift of the Holy Spirit, but we need to cooperate. God will not take away our free will, and even after baptism we remain free to turn our backs to God. We need to constantly make the decision to turn back to God in repentance and respond to Him in love. Although we struggle to be faithful to God, He will always remain faithful to us.