Feast of St. Mark, Evangelist
1ST READING
In today’s reading, St. Peter reminds us to be vigilant and resist the devil. Prayer and humility protect us against the works of the devil. No matter how simple it may seem to resist a temptation, we need to treat it with care. A major pattern of sin is only a step away. Jesus already defeated the devil by His resurrection. We do not have to be afraid of the devil, but beware of the insidious way he brings death and sin in our life.
1 Peter 5:5-14
5 Beloved: Clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for: God opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble. 6 So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. 7 Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you. 8 Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your brothers and sisters throughout the world undergo the same sufferings. 10 The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little. 11 To him be dominion forever. Amen. 12 I write you this briefly through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, exhorting you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Remain firm in it. 13 The chosen one at Babylon sends you greeting, as does Mark, my son. 14 Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
P S A L M
Psalm 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17
R: Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
1 [2] The favors of the Lord I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness. 2 [3] For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”; in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness. (R) 5 [6] The heavens proclaim your wonders, O Lord, and your faithfulness, in the assembly of the holy ones. 6 [7] For who in the skies can rank with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the sons of God? (R) 15 [16] Blessed the people who know the joyful shout; in the light of your countenance, O Lord, they walk. 16 [17] At your name they rejoice all the day, and through your justice they are exalted. (R)
GOSPEL
Jesus sends the Apostles to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The Apostles obeyed His command and went to their respective mission fields – Philip to Egypt, Thomas to India and China, and so on. What does God want you to do in the promotion of the Gospel? He has a plan for each of us. St. Mark, whose feast we celebrate today, wrote one of the Gospels. Are we writing our own gospel about our experience of God in our life?
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
We proclaim Christ crucified; he is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Mark 16:15-20
15 Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. 18 They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. 20 But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
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