Pass on the Good News
Apr 25: Feast of Saint Mark, evangelist
Happy birthday to me! I’m named after one of the evangelists, but my birthday is on the feast of a different evangelist.
Reading 1
1 Pt 5:5b-14
Beloved: 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.
This is the end of Peter’s first epistle, where he gives some parting words of advice. But of course, the reason we’re reading it today is the closing, where he mentions Mark.
You see, while Matthew and John were written by Apostles1 who personally knew Jesus, Mark and Luke were not. We’re pretty sure Mark the Evangelist is the Mark mentioned here. He traveled with Peter for a while, and also Paul. He gathered stories from these and other sources to write what became the first canonical Gospel.
It’s strange to think about, because the Bible is presented in a specific way, but it’s not the order in which it was written. These writers had their own lives, and interacted with each other in curious ways that you don’t often see in the text itself. This is just a small window into the relationship between Peter and Mark (“my son”).
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
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.
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.
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.
The larger context of this psalm is actually David’s defeat. David was promised to be a great king, so it’s a shock when he loses.
The Psalmist still insists on praising God, however. He believes God will fulfill his promises, some way and somehow that he doesn’t foresee, and thus, he continues to sing God’s praises.
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.
The rest of that first line is “a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.”
In other words, regardless of what others think about it, we still proclaim.
Gospel
Mk 16:15-20
Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: "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 obviously took these words to heart, even though he wasn’t there at the Ascension. Because Jesus wasn’t just directing them at the Apostles and the disciples in the immediate vicinity. They were for all Christians, from Peter to Mark to us today.
It’s a different world now; most people are at least aware of Jesus, and thus already have a strong opinion of Him. Thus, it’s our job to proclaim the Gospel in a way that overcomes preconceived notions and barriers.
How do we do that? Don’t ask me; I’m preaching to the choir with this blog.
Or possibly transcribed by their disciples.