Celebrating St. Mark the Evangelist
Monday, 25th April, 2016
1 Pet 5: 5-14; Mk 16: 15-20
Did Mark ever see Jesus? That's possible. But only as a young lad. They say, it is probable that Mark is referring to himself in the young man who left behind his garment and ran when Jesus was being taken prisoner (Mk 14:51,52). However he had been one of the prominent among the second generation apostles. He was taught by Peter, accompanied Paul and Barnabas and he wrote the Gospel!
Today Mark offers us three lessons to keep in mind.
1. Let us be enthusiastic about the proclamation of the Good news by facilitating or helping or supporting or encouraging those who are involved in this task. We see John Mark and his mother Mary were regularly hosting the group of Christians who gathered to pray.
2. Let us be diligent in our dedication and simple in our disposition that we are wanted by others to accompany them. Peter took Mark with him, Paul asks John Mark to be brought along, Barnabas decided to take Mark along on an important journey... Mark was a promising servant of the Lord.
3. Let us write the Gospel today. We are called to be Gospel writers just as Mark was called to be. The fifth Gospel that we are called to write is our life itself and who knows, that could be the only Gospel read by some people!
May Mark inspire us today to be enthusiastic Evangelisers.