GRACED TO PROCLAIM THE LOVE OF GOD ~ CookingFood.Org

“RISEN WITH CHRIST”

Easter Reflections

Tuesday, 25^thApril 2017,

Second Week of Easter

Feast of St. Mark, the Evangelist

1Pet 5:5-14

Ps 89:2-3,6-7,16-17 (R. 2);

Mk 16:15-20.

GRACED TO PROCLAIM THE LOVE OF GOD

Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist. A John Mark first appears in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 12:12), and subsequently mentioned in many occasions in the writings of Peter and Paul. In the Second Letter to Timothy, Paul writes: “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he can help me in the work…” In the short Letter to Philemon, Mark is cited as one of the helpers of Paul. And at the end of the First Letter of Peter we read: “…my son Mark.”There is also a tradition that Mark was the founder of the Church in Alexandria, in northern Egypt. The writing of the second gospel is also attributed to Mark, but it is not absolutely certain that it is the same person John Mark. Tradition says that Mark was requested by the Christians of Rome to set down the teachings of Peter. The gospel is thus understood as a record of the mission of Jesus as seen through the eyes of Peter. It is also the first gospel to be written and both Matthew and Luke certainly borrow extensively from Mark. Mark’s gospel is one of the most lively and readable accounts with more emphasis on the actions of Jesus, where Jesus teaches more by what he does than what he says.

The Gospel reading is from a passage at the end of Mark’s gospel. Jesus gives the Eleven, the mandate to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world and there is a promise that believers will be able to work wonders – expelling evil spirits, speaking in strange tongues, be protected from harmful elements and bring healing to the sick. The reading ends with a brief description of the Ascension when the Risen Jesus goes back to his Father’s right-hand side. Mark, through his gospel spells out the challenge for followers of Christ to imitate him in the living out of their discipleship and fulfilling the missionary command to establish the Kingdom where God’s will is being done on earth.

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation” (Mk 16:15). A simple, clear, but enormous, commission. The responsorial psalm resounds this call “I will sing for ever of your mercies, O Lord; through all ages my mouth will proclaim your fidelity…for who in the skies can compare with the Lord.” Jesus sent his disciples, ordinary men filled with extra ordinary power to preach the gospel and convert the world. The importance was not on the basis of the disciples’ preaching skills but in response to His grace at work in them. Likewise, the more open we are to the grace of God and the Gospel, the more of his grace will flow through us. Our openness to the Lord will cause a chain reaction far beyond our expectations.

Prayer: Jesus, enlighten and enable me to be open to your grace. Empower us to imitate St. Mark in his zeal to proclaim the Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.