Reading 1 1 Pt 5:5b-14
Clothe yourselves with humility
in your dealings with one another, for:
God opposes the proud
but bestows favor on the humble.
So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time.
Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.
Be sober and vigilant.
Your opponent the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, steadfast in faith,
knowing that your brothers and sisters throughout the world
undergo the same sufferings.
The God of all grace
who called you to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus
will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you
after you have suffered a little.
To him be dominion forever. Amen.
I write you this briefly through Silvanus,
whom I consider a faithful brother,
exhorting you and testifying that this is the true grace of God.
Remain firm in it.
The chosen one at Babylon sends you greeting, as does Mark, my son.
Greet one another with a loving kiss.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Responsorial Psalm PS 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17
or:
R. Alleluia.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The heavens proclaim your wonders, O LORD,
and your faithfulness, in the assembly of the holy ones.
For who in the skies can rank with the LORD?
Who is like the LORD among the sons of God?
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia 1 Cor 1:23a-24b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.We proclaim Christ crucified;
he is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mk 16:15-20
“Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They 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.”
Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them,
was taken up into heaven
and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere,
while the Lord worked with them
and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
MARK-ETING THE GOSPEL
"Signs like this will accompany those who have professed their faith: they will use My name to expel demons, they will speak entirely new languages, they will be able to handle serpents, they will be able to drink deadly poison without harm, and the sick upon whom they lay their hands will recover." –Mark 16:17-18
By saying "signs like this," Jesus means that the signs and marvels He mentioned above are only a few of the signs He will work to confirm our proclamation of the gospel. There are many other ways that Jesus backs up those who spread His Word.
When Jesus backs up our evangelization, we call this a "confirmation" of the word we have shared. "The Lord [continues] to work with" us as we witness to Him "and confirms the message through the signs" He chooses (Mk 16:20). A sales representative would be delighted if the president of her company confirmed her sales presentations to her clients. We who witness for Jesus have an even greater marketing confirmation service. Think of it! "The God of all grace...will Himself...confirm" us as we witness to Him (1 Pt 5:10).
The Lord is the same today as yesterday (Heb 13:8). As He has backed up St. Mark's preaching, so He will confirm our evangelization and preaching in the hearts of our listeners. If signs and confirmations of the gospel are not commonplace today, one possible reason may be that we aren't spreading the gospel as the Lord wants us to. He will back us up. Therefore, "go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation" (Mk 16:15).
| PRAYER: | Father, pour out Your love in my heart (Rm 5:5) so that I find delight in speaking of You (see Acts 4:20). |
| PROMISE: | "Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you." –1 Pt 5:7 |
| PRAISE: | St. Mark is called "son" by St. Peter, and his mother's house is where Peter went when freed from prison. |
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