THE WORD AND THE SAINT

Superhuman but simply human!
25th April, 2018: Feast of St. Mark, the Evangelist 
1 Pet 5: 5b-14; Mk 16: 15-20

I cannot forget an experience that I had a few years ago, once I was trying to explain today's Gospel reading to one of the tiny tots in the family. After I had explained all that Jesus had said about picking up the serpent and drinking the deadly potion and fighting the demon... the boy just looked at me and asked : so all of us are Shaktimaan? (Shaktimaan was one of those superhuman cartoon characters those days in India).

The readings today remind us of the superhuman call that we have all received! We are given the Spirit that is the Spirit of courage, power and self control and the way we live has to be tremendous to the world which looks on. If only we realise the freedom, the love and the hope that is confered on us by God, by our Saviour and by the indwelling Spirit, we would marvel at ourselves and the blessings we are endowed with!

In spite of those superhuman qualities, we are called to be humble and loving, compassionate and kind. That makes the powers given to us more efficacious, just like the Lord whom we mirror in our own selves. 

Mark a simple young boy joined the band of these superhumans and today we celebrate him. In his Gospel, which he writes from the preachings that he heard primarily from Peter and Paul, of course, we see that human Jesus so beautifully manifested - in his compassion, simplicity and down to earth living. Just as this simple young boy, let's join the band too... proclaiming in our own way everyday the Gospel of love and hope, compassion and understanding.