April 25, 2015

Mark

April 25, 2015:  St. Mark, Evangelist

See 12 connections
with today's Bible readings and celebration?Legend at bottom


 Listen



  • Psalm 89/ Barrie [requires free Scorch plug-in] (psalm)

Pope Francis
To John Paul II Foundation:  John Paul II's canonization gave your mission a new impulse, making it even more universal.  You offer a precious contribution to the promotion of his spiritual legacy.  Thanks for your educational initiatives among youth, allowing his charism and paternity to continue to bear fruit.  Your formation opportunities help prepare people to accompany communities faced with cultural and pastoral challenges.  You can add the rich social doctrine he left us.
One of the key words of social doctrine is “solidarity,” a word some thought had seen its day but that retains its prophetic force.  Live this solidarity among yourselves and nurture it with Christian fellowship animated by prayer and obedience to God's Word.
Read

  • 1 Pt 5:5b-14  Clothe yourselves with humility; humble yourselves under God's mighty hand.  Cast your worries on him; he cares for you.  Be sober and vigilant.  Resist the devil.  God who called you will restore and strengthen you.  Remain firm in God's grace.  Greet each other with a loving kiss.  Peace to you all!
  • Ps 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17  "For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord."  I'll proclaim your faithfulness.  The heavens proclaim your wonders and your faithfulness....
  • Mk 16:15-20  Jesus to the Eleven:  "Go proclaim the Gospel to every creature.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.  These signs will accompany believers:  they'll drive out demons, speak new languages, pick up serpents, lay hands on and heal the sick...."  Then he was taken up into heaven and took his seat at God's right hand.  They preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them....
Reflect
    • One Bread One Body:  "Are you learning your lessons?":   Mark learned the power of communal prayer when he saw Peter freed from prison through others' prayers.  He learned about serving the poor and building unity when he accompanied Barnabas and Paul on a relief mission.  He learned about spiritual warfare and his own weaknesses when he quit the first missionary journey.  He learned that we don't always get a second chance when Paul refused to take him on a second  journey, and that we sometimes do when Barnabas took him on a journey.  He learned more about Jesus and his Church when Peter spiritually adopted him. The Lord chose him to write one of the Gospels; the Holy Spirit graced him to write some of the most important words ever written.  The Lord is teaching us now; if we learn our lessons, we'll see the Spirit work through us in wondrous ways.
    • Passionist:  Tradition has it Mark accompanied Peter to Rome where he met Paul and put Peter’s teaching into writing.  Mark’s intention behind his gospel was likely to give to believers the essence of Jesus' words and actions.  It is now up to us to give witness to the resurrection and to proclaim Christ as savior.  The Easter season reminds us of our mission.  Don't keep your experience of the risen Lord to yourself; “go out to the world and proclaim the Good News to all.”
    • DailyScripture.net:  Mark's gospel is the shortest, likely the earliest, likely written in Rome, for Gentiles, especially Rome Christians.  "The Spirit chose for the writing of the Gospel two [Mark and Luke] not from the Twelve, so that it might not be thought that evangelization had come only to the apostles and that the fountain of grace had dried up" (St. Augustine).  Mark's gospel ends with Jesus' last appearance to the apostles before his ascension.  Jesus' departure and ascension was an end and a beginning:  end of his physical presence, the beginning of his presence through the Holy Spirit.  His last words to his apostles point to his saving mission and to their mission to be witnesses and to proclaim the good news of salvation to all the world.  God's love and salvation are for everyone who will accept it.  We're to be heralds of the good news and ambassadors for Christ, in the power of the Spirit.
    • Universalis:  St. Mark, cousin of Barnabas, disciple of Peter, accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey then followed him to Rome, founded the Church in Alexandria.   His gospel is told from Peter’s point of view.  See Catholic Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
    Dress legend
    • Humble clothing:  "Clothe yourselves with humility" (1st reading)
    • 'Hand' pin:  "Humble yourselves under God's mighty hand" (1st reading); "Believers will lay hands on the sick, who will recover"; Jesus took his seat at God's right hand  (gospel)
    • 'Lion' pin:  "Your opponent the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion" (1st reading)
    • 'Phone' tie bar:  "God who called you will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you..." (1st reading)
    • 'Peace sign" tie bar:  "Peace to all you who are in Christ." (1st reading)
    • 'World' tie:  "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel" (gospel)
    • 'Sign' pin (on suspenders):  "These signs will accompany believers:..." (gospel)
    • 'Car' tie pin:  "They'll 'drive' out demons,..." (gospel)
    • 'Serpent' tie pin:  "They'll pick up serpents..." (gospel)
    • White in shirt and socks:  Easter season
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