Bible reading: April 25th : First Reading My son, Mark, sends you greetings A Reading from the first letter of St.Peter 5:5-14 Beloved: Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility towards one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you. Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings; and so does Mark, my son. Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. The Word of the Lord. April 25th : Responsorial Psalm Psalm 89:2–3, 6–7, 16–17 (R. see 2a) Response : I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord. I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord; through all ages my mouth will proclaim your fidelity. I have declared your mercy is established forever; your fidelity stands firm as the heavens. R.: I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord. The heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your fidelity in the assembly of your holy ones. For who in the skies can compare with the Lord, or who is like the Lord among the heavenly powers? R.: I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord. How blessed the people who know your praise, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, who find their joy every day in your name, who make your justice their joyful acclaim. R.: I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord. Alleluia V. Alleluia. R. Alleluia. V. We preach Christ crucified; the power of God and the wisdom of God. R. Alleluia. April 25th : Gospel Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St.Mark 16:15-20 At that time: [Appearing to Eleven,] Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs. The Gospel of the Lord. ___________ Today's Gospel Reflection: Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe…” Mark 16:15–17 Today we honor the Gospel writer, Saint Mark. Mark, also called John Mark, was likely from modern-day Libya in North Africa but grew up in Jerusalem with his mother, Mary. Her home was a significant meeting place for early Christians, possibly hosting the Last Supper and Peter’s visit after his release from prison (Acts 12:12). Many scholars believe Mark was the young man who fled naked during Jesus’ arrest (Mark 14:51–52). Mark accompanied Barnabas (his cousin or uncle) and Paul on an early missionary journey but left them before its completion, which led to a sharp disagreement with Paul. Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus, while Paul continued elsewhere. Despite this conflict, Mark and Paul reconciled, and Paul later referred to Mark as a co-worker and a helpful companion during his imprisonment (Colossians 4:10–11; 2 Timothy 4:11). Mark also developed a close relationship with Peter, who affectionately called him “Mark, my son” (1 Peter 5:13). Tradition holds that Mark wrote his Gospel in Rome at Peter’s request, preserving Peter’s preaching for the Church. Mark’s Gospel, likely written for Gentile converts in Rome, became—and remains—a vital record of Jesus’ life and ministry. Later traditions hold that Mark became the first bishop of Alexandria in Egypt, where he preached the Gospel. He is believed to have suffered martyrdom there, dragged over stones and imprisoned for his faith. Though Saint Mark is traditionally honored as a martyr, today’s feast celebrates him above all as an evangelist. In today’s Gospel, Saint Mark recounts Jesus’ final words to His Apostles: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” Through his life and writings, Saint Mark faithfully fulfilled this command, preserving the saving message of Christ for generations to come. Jesus’ commission was accompanied by promises of signs that would follow those who believe: They would drive out demons, speak new languages, handle serpents, and heal the sick. While these signs were often manifested in miraculous ways in the early Church, they carry a deeper spiritual significance for us today. Like Saint Mark, each of us is called to be an evangelist, bringing the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Though we might not be given the grace to perform miracles, Jesus’ promises remain true when we act in His name. Demons are cast out not only through exorcism, but also when we bring the Light of Christ to the darkness of sin and evil. We “speak new languages” when the Holy Spirit uses us to communicate God’s Word in ways that touch hearts anew. The “serpents” we handle and the “deadly drink” we overcome symbolize the temptations and evils God’s grace protects us from when we remain faithful to Him. As we honor Saint Mark the Evangelist, reflect today on how his Gospel calls you to heed Jesus’ commission. Symbolically speaking, have you learned to speak the new language of the Holy Spirit, combat the powers of evil, and radiate God’s love and mercy to others? This mission takes firm resolve and courage. Do not fear when “serpents” or “deadly drink” appear along the way. Trust that God’s grace will protect and guide you. When you are fully united to Christ, everything you do and say flows naturally in His name, making the Gospel known to the ends of the earth. Saint Mark the Evangelist, though you were young when you met our Lord, you grew deeply in faith and faithfully heeded His commission to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Through your fidelity to Christ, countless souls came to believe through your preaching and continue to encounter Him through your inspired writing. Please pray for me, that I may have the courage to speak and act in Jesus’ name, becoming an instrument of His saving Word. Jesus, I trust in You. #Bible reading