The Second Sunday of Easter (NT)

1 Peter 1:13-25

¹³ Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, ¹⁵ but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” ¹⁷ And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, ¹⁸ knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. ²⁰ He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you ²¹ who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

²² Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, ²³ since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; ²⁴ for

       “All flesh is like grass

and all its glory like the flower of grass.

       The grass withers,

and the flower falls,

²⁵    but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Be Holy in all your conduct. Be Holy as The Lord your God is Holy. Conduct yourself with fear and trembling. Do not act out of Your passions, nor out of your ignorance. Therefore, prepare your minds for this conduct. Be ready to stand against your own ignorance, and sinful nature.

We do not remain forever. The flower does fall, as we fall in failure of upholding the commands of God. The grass withers, as our strength and faith wanes in times of trial. We struggle in our life and deeds. We do not always do as we ought.

But it is on account of our ignorance, shame , and vice that we fade, wither, and die. But the Word of the Lord remains forever. You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. Christ has died for your sins. He is risen as the first fruits of your resurrection. He is the living Word, and continually present where people gather in his name. There he is forgiving sins, and preparing minds.