Saint of the Day for April 25
(? – c. April 25, 68) Saint Mark's Story Most of what we know about Mark comes directly from the New Testament. He is usually identified with the Mark of Acts 12:12. When Saint Peter escaped from prison, he went to the home of Mark's mother. Paul and Barnabas took him along on the first missionary journey, but for some reason Mark returned alone to Jerusalem. It is evident, from Paul's refusal to let Mark accompany him on the second journey despite Barnabas's insistence, that Mark had displeased Paul. Because Paul later asks Mark to visit him in prison, we may assume the trouble did not last long. The oldest and the shortest of the four Gospels, the Gospel of Mark emphasizes Jesus's rejection by humanity while being God's triumphant envoy. Probably written for gentile converts in Rome—after the death of Peter and Paul sometime between A.D. 60 and 70—Mark's Gospel is the gradual manifestation of a "scandal": a crucified Messiah. Evidently a friend of Mark—calling him "my son"—Peter is only one of this Gospel's sources, others being the Church in Jerusalem (Jewish roots), and the Church at Antioch (largely Gentile). Like another Gospel writer Luke, Mark was not one of the 12 apostles. We cannot be certain whether he knew Jesus personally. Some scholars feel that the evangelist is speaking of himself when describing the arrest of Jesus in Gethsemane: "Now a young man followed him wearing nothing but a linen cloth about his body. They seized him, but he left the cloth behind and ran off naked" (Mark 14:51-52). Others hold Mark to be the first bishop of Alexandria, Egypt. Venice, famous for the Piazza San Marco, claims Mark as its patron saint; the large basilica there is believed to contain his remains. A winged lion is Mark's symbol. The lion derives from Mark's description of John the Baptist as a "voice of one crying out in the desert" (Mark 1:3), which artists compared to a roaring lion. The wings come from the application of Ezekiel's vision of four winged creatures to the evangelists. Reflection Mark fulfilled in his life what every Christian is called to do: proclaim to all people the Good News that is the source of salvation. In particular, Mark's way was by writing. Others may proclaim the Good News by music, drama, poetry, or by teaching children around a family table. Saint Mark is the Patron Saint of: Notaries
Venice | Feast of Saint Mark, evangelist Lectionary: 555
Reading 1 1 Pt 5:5b-14 Beloved:
Clothe yourselves with humility
in your dealings with one another, for: God opposes the proud
but bestows favor on the humble. So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time.
Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you. Be sober and vigilant.
Your opponent the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, steadfast in faith,
knowing that your brothers and sisters throughout the world
undergo the same sufferings.
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.
To him be dominion forever. Amen. 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.
The chosen one at Babylon sends you greeting, as does Mark, my son.
Greet one another with a loving kiss.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ. Responsorial Psalm 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17 R. (2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The heavens proclaim your wonders, O LORD,
and your faithfulness, in the assembly of the holy ones.
For who in the skies can rank with the LORD?
Who is like the LORD among the sons of God?
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia 1 Cor 1:23a-24b R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We proclaim Christ crucified;
he is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 16:15-20 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:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
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." Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them,
was taken up into heaven
and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere,
while the Lord worked with them
and confirmed the word through accompanying signs. | Daily Meditation: 1 Peter 5:5-14 . . . Mark, my son. (1 Peter 5:13) A disciple named "Mark" or "John Mark" is mentioned various times in the New Testament, both by Peter and Paul. Since the name was quite common, scholars aren't quite sure whether all the passages refer to the same person or whether this is the same Mark who wrote the Gospel bearing his name. But whether or not this man was also a coworker of Peter and Paul, we celebrate him today as the evangelist who gave the world the first inspired account of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Mark wrote his Gospel around AD 70. Before then, both oral and written stories about Jesus had been passed down by those eyewitnesses who were Jesus' first followers. But at some point, Mark decided to collect those stories and put them in chronological order. The stories he conveyed are filled with memorable details and an immediacy that can make us feel as if we are witnessing the events ourselves. There's no doubt that Mark was a gifted writer and disciple. But Mark was not a solo act. He had a writing partner: the Holy Spirit! According to the Catechism, "God inspired the human authors of the sacred books" (106). He chose people like Mark to write the Scriptures, and "made use of their own faculties and powers," but "he acted in them and by them" (Vatican II, On Divine Revelation, 11). God didn't just "dictate" the Gospel to Mark. Nor did he drop down a book from the sky. Instead, he worked with him and through him. That's how he works with us, too. He inspires us, guides us, and uses our gifts for his greater purpose: to build his kingdom. We might feel unworthy to partner with the Spirit of God, but our Lord doesn't see it that way. How awesome that he puts such trust in us! Did Mark know that his Gospel would be handed down over two millennia and read, studied, and treasured by countless people? Probably not. He simply cooperated with the Holy Spirit. In honor of this great saint, may we do the same today—and every day—in whatever way God wants to use us! "St. Mark, thank you for writing your Gospel. Help me to trust in the Spirit as you did." Psalm 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17
Mark 16:15-20 |  try to hear it read by AI | Reflections with Brother Adrian: | In the Holy Scripture we hear today:
"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......." end quote. | There was a person that we know for sure that did exactly this preaching to every creature and that person was St. Francis of Assisi, one of the stories of him goes:
""All ye birds of the air, bless the Lord"
"Saint Francis and his companions were making a trip through the Spoleto Valley near the town of Bevagna. Suddenly, Saint Francis spotted a great number of birds of all varieties ' doves, crows and others. Swept up in the moment, Saint Francis left his friends in the road and ran after the birds, who patiently waited for him. He greeted them in his usual way, expecting them to scurry off into the air as he spoke. But they didn't move.
Filled with awe, he asked them if they would stay awhile and listen to the Word of God. He said to them: "My brother and sister birds, you should praise your Creator and always love him: He gave you feathers for clothes, wings to fly and all other things that you need. It is God who made you noble among all creatures, making your home in the air. Without sowing or reaping, you receive God's guidance and protection."
At this the birds began to spread their wings, stretch their necks and gaze at the saint, rejoicing and praising God in a wonderful way according to their nature. Saint Francis then walked right through the middle of them, turned around and came back, touching their heads and bodies with his tunic.
Then he gave them his blessing, making the sign of the cross over them. At that they flew off and Saint Francis, rejoicing and giving thanks to God, went on his way." That story is wonderful to see the happenings of man and creatures, but the most beautiful are humans, the ones made in God's own image. They are worth a million times more than a bird, yet God knows every bird that falls from the sky. How about you?
The evil in the world makes us feel worthless, down, depressed, full of anxiety and always playing with your "self worth".
Why don't we take comfort wherever we are that God sees us right where we are and in the most loneliest, most sickly person, if that person opens up to Him, He loves to reside in that poor abode.
"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned:".
We got to love our protestant family when all they preach is baptism, because that's all they seem to shoot for in "being saved".
Fortunately there actually are way more Sacraments but yes, that is the first step in salvation! But we must be baptized in the Holy Trinity, not just in Jesus' name, because there's more!
I see my loved ones that are not baptized and I tremble inside for them.
If only they would be baptized! And then, I can't even speak to them about baptism, there never seems to be the "appropriate time". Maybe I should do like my mom does and just suddenly blurt it out, even if not seemingly the most "perfect time". How much courage would that take? How much grace does that take? Why don't we care enough for another's soul that we would make it awkward for them to see a harsh but lovingly and true reality, that we must be baptized, that we must repent, that we must believe!
Why are we always quiet and tip toeing around the issue?
I hate to say what I heard once but it has to be said; that when we don't speak up, it's probably a matter of pride, to save yourself, your ego, the way you appear before others so as not to offend others.
I am guilty of it. Daily. I wish I didn't have fear, pride, all those weak things inside.
But maybe someone hearing this will have the gall to do what nobody else will do...to care enough.
The reason we have a whole new lighting setup in our church as of last week is because I witnessed something after Mass one day. A flute player, a quiet vietnamese man in our choir, he spoke up when he heard we needed someone with electrical expertise, and he asked his relative or friend, a tall electrical engineer in our parish, if he would please meet with our building manager who is in the choir too plays the bass guitar, and once they met, by the next week we had all new lights! All because this humble man spoke up.
How much would the world change if we would humble down and speak up humbly?
It would change dramatically. If only. Lord, help me sacrifice myself for You like this, with true humility and grace. |  Click for Audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Matthew 5:46–48 [Matthew 5] 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers,1 what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
