Feast
of Saint Mark
April 25, 2016 8:30am
Readings: I Peter
5.5b-14
Mark
16.15-20
Today, on this Feast of Saint
Mark, we hear the conclusion of Mark’s gospel.
What Mark or Jesus seems to be
conveying here is our role as a Church.
Jesus starts by saying that we
are to “proclaim the gospel.”
So there is definitely a verbal
and intellectual dimension to our work.
We are to make known the good
news of Jesus.
Jesus also says that we are to “proclaim the gospel to every creature.”
So there is a universal scope and
dimension to our work.
We are to be eager to bring Jesus
to everyone.
Along with this, he says that we
will “speak new languages.”
In other words, the message of
Jesus will be able to cut across any boundaries of nationality and language and
even culture.
It can appeal to everyone.
Jesus also says here that “we will lay hands on the sick, and they
will recover.”
This is a way of saying that our
ministry is to care for both body and soul.
In fact, sometimes we have to
care for bodily needs like water and food and housing before the spiritual can
be satisfied.
And finally, Jesus talks about
our being able to “pick up serpents…and
drink any deadly thing.”
This is not to be taken
literally.
He is saying that we will be
equipped with special power, the power of the Holy Spirit in bringing light and
love where darkness and enmity predominate.
So, it is kind of a summary
commissioning of the Church and of us.
It seems like a very fitting way
for Mark to conclude his gospel.
