Feast of St. Mark, Evangelist
1 Peter 5: 5b-14, 1st
Reading
Psalm 89
Mark 16:15-20
Worship Song
Entrance
Antiphon
Go out to the whole world, and preach
the gospel to all creation, alleluia (Mark 16:15).
Opening
Prayer
Father, you gave Saint Mark the
privilege of proclaiming your gospel. May we profit by his wisdom and follow
Christ more faithfully. Grant this…
Alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia. We proclaim Christ
crucified, he is the power of God and the wisdom of God. Alleluia, alleluia. (1
Corinthians 1:23-24)
Jesus
Missions the Disciples
15He said to them, “Go
into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not
believe will be condemned. 17These signs will accompany
those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new
languages. 18They will pick up serpents [with their hands], and if they drink
any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and
they will recover.”
19So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into
heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. 20But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked
with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
Reflection
“The Lord
worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.” ~ v. 20b
The most
convincing proof of the resurrection is the transformation that took place in
Jesus’ followers after it. B. F. Rhein says of them:
“Off they went
with burning urgency to tell the news to all the world. The Messiah had come.
Truly the kingdom of God was at hand. Their lives were led for that end and for
that end alone. No amount of persecution could stop them.”
The followers
of Jesus enjoyed a new relationship with the risen Lord. He was able to work
with and through them in a remarkable new way. They were now his hands, his
heart, his tongue.
Can we recall
a time when Jesus worked through us in a special way?
Reflection Credits: Mark Link, SJ; Daily Homilies
Prayer Response
Lord Jesus,
empower us to be your witnesses. Fill us with the Holy Spirit so that we may
serve you well.
Suggested Action
Be sensitive
to the leading of Holy Spirit. Where and how are you being called to proclaim
the gospel?
“The holiest
moment of the church service is the moment when God’s people – strengthened by
preaching and sacrament – go out of the church into the world to be the
church.” ~ Ernest Southcott
Silencing
We
cannot know God unless we have listened to him in the silence of our hearts.
Rest in the loving arms of the Lord with an open mind and an open heart.
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