April 25 - St. Mark

(1Pt.5:5-14; Ps.89:2-3,6-7,16-17; Mk.16:15-20) "Go into the world and proclaim the Good News to all creation." Such is the call and accomplishment of our evangelist Mark, whose gospel reflects the song of our psalmist today, "The favors of the Lord I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness." For his inspired Word lives forever to declare the faithfulness of God. And "happy the people who know the joyful shout," who exclaim like Peter in our first reading, "Dominion be His throughout the ages!" For they "walk in the light of [the Lord's] countenance," and so "they rejoice all the day." "The Eleven went forth and preached everywhere," and those who believed in the Good News they proclaimed indeed were saved, as are we today. The promise Peter makes in our first reading is true: "The God of all grace, who called you to His everlasting glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish those who have suffered a little while." Though answering the call of the Lord bring suffering in this world, it is but little to endure for the surpassing glory which is ours in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And so to "bow humbly under God's mighty hand, so that in due time He may lift [us] high" is a joy in itself; the suffering we experience for the sake of the Word is itself laced with great joy, for we know in our souls and have seen that it but leads to exaltation at the right hand of God. "Through your justice they are exalted" – so our psalmist praises God for His mercy and His truth. And all souls converted to the Lord will know the Lord's justice in full flower. And oh the signs that "will accompany those who have professed their faith," the strength in the Name and the Spirit of God and the healing graces that are known in them. Every day and in every situation such power is invoked and implemented by those who believe. Be not so forgetful of the wonders Jesus works through those who walk with Him. "The heavens proclaim your wonders, O Lord, and your faithfulness, in the assembly of the holy ones." The verse is true, my friends. And as "the Lord continued to work with [the apostles] throughout and confirm the message [they proclaimed] through the signs which accompanied them," so He will not leave alone this day anyone who takes up His cross and even in the humblest fashion proclaims His holy Name. The news is good and the Lord wishes all to hear. Make His message known to the ends of the world: salvation has come to all. Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Carie Fortney. Music by Annette Meyer; used by permission. ******* O LORD, though we suffer for His Name, your Son is with us all the day, and we walk in the light of His countenance. YHWH, you call your apostles to go out to the whole world and preach the Good News of the coming of Christ. May they be faithful in their mission and may all believe and be baptized, and so be saved. Humbly let all souls come to you, that we might be exalted at your right hand. There is suffering in your call, O LORD; there is even the shedding of blood. But though we might die for the sake of your Name and that of your Son, your peace rests upon us. For it is you who fulfill your work in us, you who go out with all your apostles… and you who are with them till the end of time. May they lay their hands on the sick that they might recover, and not be afraid to lose their lives in the process. To every corner of the earth let your Word now come, LORD, to every soul that sits in darkness. Awaken hearts to sing of your glory, you who raise all who bow humbly before you.