Saturday April 25th: Mark his words!

He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”

Mark 16:15-20

Today, on the Feast of St. Mark, Jesus commands the disciples and by extension all of us, to go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News. He is really empowering us to become missionary disciples and share that good news with everyone we meet.

We are challenged become one of Jesus’s disciples and conform our lives to his. The secret of discipleship is to also bear our own cross. We often unconsciously sing “to share his destiny.”

We face much ridicule and insult when we are intentional in spreading the good news. Sometimes that may come from those who are closest to us. We must ask for the grace to remain firm in our faith.

Saint Mark, you faced many challenges in your missionary zeal and work. You shed your blood for Christ. Pray for us that as we face our own challenges in our efforts to obey Christ, we may not look back but resolutely look ahead, knowing that Christ is always with us.