Feast of Saint Mark, Evangelist
Lectionary: 555
Lectionary: 555
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.
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 PsalmPS 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17
R. (2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
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.
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.
Gospel1 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.
We proclaim Christ crucified;
he is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 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.
“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.
Meditation: "Go into all the world and preach
the gospel to the whole creation"
In many churches in the East and West, Mark the Evangelist is
honored today. Each of the four gospel accounts gives us a portrait of Jesus,
his life, mission, and teaching. Each is different in style, length, and
emphasis. But they all have a common thread and purpose – the proclamation of
the good news of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Among the four gospels,
Mark's account is unique in many ways. It is the shortest account and seems to
be the earliest. Mark the Evangelist was an associate of Peter and likely wrote
his gospel in Rome where Peter was based. Mark wrote it in Greek. It was likely
written for Gentile readers in general, and for the Christians at Rome in
particular. It is significant that Mark, as well as Luke, was chosen by the
Holy Spirit to write the gospel account even though he wasn't one of the twelve
apostles. Augustine of Hippo, explains: "The Holy Spirit willed to
choose for the writing of the Gospel two [Mark and Luke] who were not even from
those who made up the Twelve, so that it might not be thought that the grace of
evangelization had come only to the apostles and that in them the fountain of
grace had dried up" (Sermon 239.1).
Mark ends his gospel account with Jesus' last appearance to the
apostles before his ascension into heaven. Jesus' departure and ascension was
both an end and a beginning for his disciples. While it was the end of Jesus'
physical presence with his beloved disciples, it marked the beginning of Jesus'
presence with them in a new way. Jesus promised that he would be with them always
to the end of time. Now as the glorified and risen Lord and Savior, ascended to
the right hand of the Father in heaven, Jesus promised to send them the Holy
Spirit who would anoint them with power on the Feast of Pentecost, just as
Jesus was anointed for his ministry at the River Jordan. When the Lord Jesus
departed physically from the apostles, they were not left in sorrow or
grief. Instead, they were filled with joy and with great anticipation for
the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus' last words to his apostles point to his saving mission
and to their mission to be witnesses of his saving death and his glorious
resurrection and to proclaim the good news of salvation to all the world. Their
task is to proclaim the good news of salvation, not only to the people of
Israel, but to all the nations. God's love and gift of salvation is not just
for a few, or for a nation, but it is for the whole world – for all who will
accept it. The gospel is the power of God, the power to forgive sins, to heal,
to deliver from evil and oppression, and to restore life. Do you believe in the
power of the gospel?
This is the great commission which the risen Christ gives
to the whole church. All believers have been given a share in this task – to be
heralds of the good news and ambassadors for Jesus Christ, the only savior of
the world. We have not been left alone in this task, for the risen Lord works
in and through us by the power of his Holy Spirit. Today we witness a new
Pentecost as the Lord pours out his Holy Spirit upon his people to renew and
strengthen the body of Christ and to equip it for effective ministry and
mission world-wide. Do you witness to others the joy of the gospel and the hope
of the resurrection?
“Lord Jesus, through the gift of your Holy Spirit, you fill us
with an indomitable spirit of praise and joy which no earthly trial can subdue.
Fill me with your resurrection joy and help me to live a life of praise and
thanksgiving for your glory. May I witness to those around me the joy of the
gospel and the reality of your resurrection.”
 Our Turn |
|
April 25, 2015.
Feast of Saint Mark, evangelist
|
|
By Father Patrick Langan, LC
Mark 16: 15-20
And he said to them, "Go into all the
world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes
and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be
condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name
they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up
snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt
them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." So
then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven
and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the
good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the
message by the signs that accompanied it.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, thank you for taking the time to
be with me. There are things in life, Lord, that attract me, but you attract
me more. I hope in you because you are always faithful to your promises, and
I love you. Maybe I don’t fully understand what it means to love, and maybe I
don’t love the way I should, but I do love you.
Petition: Lord, help me to focus on what I can do to
tell others of your love.
1. Christ: When Christ blesses, it happens. When he
takes yeast and kneads it with three measures of flour, it leavens the dough
all through. When he blesses the bread, it multiplies. When he blesses the
Eucharist, he is there for us. Christ blesses his apostles. He also wants to
bless me and my work. These are not just events of the past, for God’s word
is a living word. He also wants to bless me and my work. How can I draw down
Christ’s blessing upon me, my family, the people I love, and the work I do?
All I have to do is ask him to bless me and believe that he can and wants to.
He will take care of the rest.
2. Apostles: Imagine the apostles talking after the
Ascension. Andrew would might say to Peter, “Peter, Christ told us to
preach to all nations.” “You are right, Andrew, we need to go to the next
town,” Peter would agree. “No,” Andrew would urge, “we have to go to Athens
and Rome.” Peter might object, “Athens and Rome! But we don’t know anyone
there.” In an attempt to persuade him Andrew would add, “Peter, Jesus wanted
us to begin here in Jerusalem because this is the largest Jewish city.
However, he has shown that he has also called the Gentiles to the Church. We
must go to their capitals, their cities of greatest influence so that they
too might hear the message Jesus entrusted to us.” Despite their fears, they
obeyed Christ and proclaimed the good news in new places.
3. Us: Now it is our turn. As it always has been, being an apostle today is difficult. As we get older, it gets harder. Nevertheless, it is our turn. We live at a crossroads of history. I know Christ is blessing me. He is sending me. I feel fear, but I know he is asking me to imitate the fidelity of the first apostles. He is only waiting for me to begin preaching so that he can bless all that I undertake in his name.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, thank you for coming. Thank you for
giving the apostles the strength to resist and persevere. Now it is my turn.
Grant me the graces I need to proclaim the good news.
Resolution: I live life but once. So today I will
analyze how I use my time and resolve to eliminate one of the bad habits that
leads me to waste time.
|
FEAST OF ST. MARK
SATURDAY, APRIL 25, MARK 16:15-20
(1 Peter 5:5b-14; Psalm 89)
SATURDAY, APRIL 25, MARK 16:15-20
(1 Peter 5:5b-14; Psalm 89)
KEY VERSE: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature" (v 15).
TO READ: Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Mark wrote what is believed to be the first Gospel. It is thought that Mark wrote from Rome during the persecution by Nero Caesar in the late 60's shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem (70 CE). Mark wrote to Gentile Christians to encourage them to endure their sufferings, and urged them to continue to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is believed that Mark's gospel originally ended at Mk 16:8 with the women fleeing the empty tomb in fear. But Mark's purpose in writing was complete; Jesus was raised from the dead just as he told his followers. Mark wanted to challenge his readers to preach the gospel courageously. The concluding verses (9-20) were a later summary of other events and were not in any of the early manuscripts. This "longer ending" is a picture of the work committed to the Church by Jesus Christ. First, the Church has a preaching mission to tell the story of the good news of Jesus. Next, the Church has a healing task to bring health to the body and to the soul. Finally, the Church will never be left on its own to do its work. Christ works with the Church, in the Church and through the Church. Mark’s gospel ends with the message that the Christian life is filled with the power of Christ who was crucified and rose again.
TO REFLECT: Is my life a "gospel" that others can read?
TO RESPOND: Risen Lord, help me to proclaim your good news everywhere I go.
DIVINA LECTIO:
ST. MARK, EVANGELIST - MK 16,15-20
Lectio:
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Easter Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God,
there is much in us that obscures your word
and keeps us from being truly your Church.We pray you today:
Call us, as once you called Mark,
to speak and live your word.
Inspire us through your Spirit
and teach us to live in the hope
that your kingdom will come
and remain among us
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
now and for ever.
there is much in us that obscures your word
and keeps us from being truly your Church.We pray you today:
Call us, as once you called Mark,
to speak and live your word.
Inspire us through your Spirit
and teach us to live in the hope
that your kingdom will come
and remain among us
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
now and for ever.
2) Gospel Reading - Mark 16,15-20
Jesus said to the Eleven, 'Go out to the whole world; proclaim
the gospel to all creation.
Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.' And so the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven; there at the right hand of God he took his place, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.
Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.' And so the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven; there at the right hand of God he took his place, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.
3) Reflection
• Today’s Gospel forms part of the appendix of the Gospel of
Mark (Mk 16, 9-20) which presents the list of some apparitions of Jesus: to
Magdalene (Mk 16, 9-11), to the two disciples who were walking out in the
country (Mk 16, 12-13) and to the twelve apostles (Mk 16, 14-18). This last
apparition together with the description of the Ascension into Heaven (Mk 16,
19-20) forms the Gospel for today.
• Mark 16, 14: The signs which accompany the announcement of the Good News. Jesus appears to the eleven disciples and reproaches them for not believing the persons who had seen him resurrected. They did not believe Mary Magdalene (Mk 16, 11), neither the two disciples on the road out in the country (Mk 16, 13). Several times, Mark refers to the resistance of the disciples in believing the witness of those who experienced the Resurrection of Jesus. Why does Mark insist so much on the lack of faith of the disciples? Probably, to teach two things: First, that faith in Jesus goes through faith in persons who give witness. Second, that no one should be discouraged when there is incredulity in the heart. Even the eleven disciples doubted!
• Mark 16, 15-18: The mission to announce the Good News to the whole world. After having criticized the lack of faith of the disciples, Jesus confers the mission to them: “Go out to the whole world, proclaim the Gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned”. To those who had the courage to believe in the Good News and who are baptized, Jesus promises the following signs: they will cast out devils, they will have the gift of tongues, they will pick up snakes in their hands and be unharmed if they drink deadly poison, they will lay their hands on the sick who will recover. This happens even today:
- to cast out devils: it is to fight against the force of evil which destroys life. The life of many persons improves because they entered into the community and have begun to live the Good News of the presence of God in their life.
- to speak new tongues: it means to begin to communicate with others in a new way. Sometimes we meet a person whom we have never seen before, but it seems to us that we have known her for some time. This happens because we speak the same language, the language of love.
- deadly poison will not harm them: there are many things that poison life together, community There is much gossiping which destroys the relationship between persons. The one who lives in the presence of God does not pay attention to these things and is able not to be disturbed by this terrible poison.
- they cure the sick. Wherever there is a clearer and livelier conscience of God’s presence, there is also a special care given to the excluded and marginalized persons, especially the sick. What can help the cure is that the person feels accepted and loved.
• Mark 16, 19-20: Through the community Jesus continues his mission. Jesus himself who lives in Palestine, and accepts the poor of his time, revealing the love of the Father to them, and this same Jesus continues to be alive in our midst, in our community. Through us, he wants to continue his mission to reveal the Good News of God’s love to the poor. Even up to this time the resurrection takes place. And it impels us to sing: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ, who will separate us?” No power of this world is capable to neutralize the force that comes from faith in the Resurrection (Rm 8, 35-39). A community which wants to be a witness of the Resurrection should be a sign of life, should struggle against the forces of death, in such a way that the world may be a favourable place for life, where to believe that another world is possible. Above all, in Latin America, where the life of people is in danger because of the system of death which has been imposed, the communities should be a living proof of the hope which overcomes the world, without fear of being happy!
• Mark 16, 14: The signs which accompany the announcement of the Good News. Jesus appears to the eleven disciples and reproaches them for not believing the persons who had seen him resurrected. They did not believe Mary Magdalene (Mk 16, 11), neither the two disciples on the road out in the country (Mk 16, 13). Several times, Mark refers to the resistance of the disciples in believing the witness of those who experienced the Resurrection of Jesus. Why does Mark insist so much on the lack of faith of the disciples? Probably, to teach two things: First, that faith in Jesus goes through faith in persons who give witness. Second, that no one should be discouraged when there is incredulity in the heart. Even the eleven disciples doubted!
• Mark 16, 15-18: The mission to announce the Good News to the whole world. After having criticized the lack of faith of the disciples, Jesus confers the mission to them: “Go out to the whole world, proclaim the Gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned”. To those who had the courage to believe in the Good News and who are baptized, Jesus promises the following signs: they will cast out devils, they will have the gift of tongues, they will pick up snakes in their hands and be unharmed if they drink deadly poison, they will lay their hands on the sick who will recover. This happens even today:
- to cast out devils: it is to fight against the force of evil which destroys life. The life of many persons improves because they entered into the community and have begun to live the Good News of the presence of God in their life.
- to speak new tongues: it means to begin to communicate with others in a new way. Sometimes we meet a person whom we have never seen before, but it seems to us that we have known her for some time. This happens because we speak the same language, the language of love.
- deadly poison will not harm them: there are many things that poison life together, community There is much gossiping which destroys the relationship between persons. The one who lives in the presence of God does not pay attention to these things and is able not to be disturbed by this terrible poison.
- they cure the sick. Wherever there is a clearer and livelier conscience of God’s presence, there is also a special care given to the excluded and marginalized persons, especially the sick. What can help the cure is that the person feels accepted and loved.
• Mark 16, 19-20: Through the community Jesus continues his mission. Jesus himself who lives in Palestine, and accepts the poor of his time, revealing the love of the Father to them, and this same Jesus continues to be alive in our midst, in our community. Through us, he wants to continue his mission to reveal the Good News of God’s love to the poor. Even up to this time the resurrection takes place. And it impels us to sing: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ, who will separate us?” No power of this world is capable to neutralize the force that comes from faith in the Resurrection (Rm 8, 35-39). A community which wants to be a witness of the Resurrection should be a sign of life, should struggle against the forces of death, in such a way that the world may be a favourable place for life, where to believe that another world is possible. Above all, in Latin America, where the life of people is in danger because of the system of death which has been imposed, the communities should be a living proof of the hope which overcomes the world, without fear of being happy!
4) Personal questions
• How do theses signs of God’s presence take place in my life?
• Today, which are the signs of the presence of Jesus in our midst that convince persons the most?
• Today, which are the signs of the presence of Jesus in our midst that convince persons the most?
5) Concluding Prayer
I shall sing the faithful love of Yahweh for ever,
from age to age my lips shall declare your constancy,
for you have said: love is built to last for ever,
you have fixed your constancy firm in the heavens. (Ps 89,1-2)
from age to age my lips shall declare your constancy,
for you have said: love is built to last for ever,
you have fixed your constancy firm in the heavens. (Ps 89,1-2)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét