COLLECT: “O GOD, WHO RAISED SAINT MARK, YOUR EVANGELIST, AND ENDOWED HIM WITH THE GRACE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL, GRANT, WE PRAY, THAT WE MAY SO PROFIT FROM HIS TEACHING AS TO FOLLOW FAITHFULLY IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CHRIST. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
1Pt 5:5b-14; Ps 88:2-3,6-7,16-17 and Mk 16:15-20.
The portion from the gospel of Mark, whose feast we celebrate today, is what is popularly called ‘The Great Commission’. Jesus commissioned and sent out his disciples to the whole world to proclaim the good news to all creation. People who believe and are baptised would be saved and vice versa. In the name of Jesus, many wondrous signs and miracles would take place through the disciples. Indeed, after Jesus’ ascension, the disciples carried out this mission given to them by their Lord and Master.
Mark or John Mark, who was not a direct disciple or an apostle of Jesus (He was not one of the twelve) carried out this great commission. Mark was intimately associated with the development of the young Church. He was born in Jerusalem and he accompanied Barnabas, Paul and Peter in their apostolic labours. He was a helper to these stronger personalities. According to an ancient tradition, Mark’s Gospel reflects his association with Peter. He is considered to have founded the Church in Alexandria in Egypt. He is specially honoured by the Coptic Christians of that country.
Today, Mark and the rest of the disciples of Jesus are no longer living in the present with us. By virtue of our baptism, and especially our confirmation, we have taken the place of the disciples and he has commissioned us to "Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation". Jesus wants to use us like Mark and the rest as his hands, feet and legs, eyes, ears, mouth, head and mind, heart and as his whole body to work and transform the world.
We are differently chosen and called, and we are being commissioned to carry out this mission wherever we find ourselves. Just as those called into the priestly and religious life are to actively proclaim the Good News and baptise those who believe, married people are called into the marriage life and they are commissioned to bring Christ and his Good News into their marriage life. They are to preach Christ to their partners and children in the family, which is the basic unit for evangelisation. Politicians (especially Christian politicians) should see themselves as missionaries like Mark carrying out the mission of Jesus in their political endeavours. They should endeavour to bring good news or glad tidings to people. Bosses and workers should see themselves in their offices or workplaces as missionaries, bringing the good news and glad tidings to people in their offices and at our workplaces.
One method to adapt in order to carry out this mission effectively is to live the life of HUMILITY. This has come out clearly in St. Peter’s teaching in his First Letter to Christians (Cf. 1Pt 5:5b-14): “So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time”. A life of humility is a powerful sermon/homily in itself. A life of humility is worthy of emulation and it is attractive to people. It is life-witnessing. Remember humility is one of the great virtues (and a legacy) that Jesus left with us to emulate and live (Cf. Phil 2:5ff). Also, humility will always make us sober and vigilant/watchful in the world, in our work and in our missionary activities. In humility, when we are going through tough times, or when we are going through sufferings and challenges in life, we will submit all that to the Lord and to God-fearing people. It pays to humble oneself. Let us pray for the grace and the spirit of humility to carry out the mission the Lord has called each one of us into. HAPPY FEAST DAY TO ALL WHO BEAR THE NAME MARK. GOD BLESS YOU. Stay blessed.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, SATURDAY, ON THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE ANNUNCIATION, THE VISITATION, THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE AND THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE’. (LET US PRAY FOR HUMILITY, LOVE OF NEIGHBOUR, POVERTY IN SPIRIT, OBEDIENCE AND JOY IN FINDING JESUS) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “GRANT, WE PRAY, ALMIGHTY GOD, THAT WHAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM YOUR HOLY ALTAR MAY SANCTIFY US AND MAKE US STRONG IN THE FAITH OF THE GOSPEL WHICH SAINT MARK PROCLAIMED. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863.
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