SAINT MARK, EVANGELIST (FEAST)

Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel. 

Happy Feast of St. Mark!   We first meet John Mark in Acts 12 as a young man on a mission.   He lived in Jerusalem during the first persecution, when James was martyred and when Peter was almost killed.   He then joined Paul and Barnabas on missionary journeys (Acts 12–13), deserted them in Pamphylia (13:13), but eventually led his own evangelistic missions.   Finally, he is mentioned by both Paul and Peter in Rome (2 Timothy 4:11; 1 Peter 5:13).

It seems that Mark’s entire career took place at a run, in near constant danger of imprisonment or worse.   Catholic tradition from its earliest centuries also attributes the second Gospel to St. Mark.   And not surprisingly, this Gospel is often noted for its breathless pace.   It’s as though, as he did on his missionary journeys, Mark can’t wait to tell the good news about Jesus.

The Church offers us saints like Mark not only as intercessors but also as role models.   So let’s pause and consider his example.   In today’s Gospel (Mark 16:15 – 20), Mark recounts how the risen Jesus gave his apostles an enormous task: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature” (16:15).   Maybe today would be a good time to do an “evangelization check” of our own.

Like Mark, we have heard the good news.   Like him, we know that Jesus expects us to share it.   But we might find that difficult to do.   Worry over saying the wrong thing, fear of sounding pushy, or just the busy pace of life can block us from taking up our calling.

Maybe we can take some inspiration from St. Mark.   Remember, he always seemed to be running at full speed.   That kind of pace ought to sound familiar to us.   Perhaps we could take some of the brisk energy we feel in our everyday lives—running to the store, to the office, to campus, to pick up the kids—and channel it toward serving the Lord.

Where are you running today?   Is there an opportunity to stop for a moment, look around, and see if there is someone who could use a word of encouragement?

“St. Mark, pray that I might find creative ways to share the gospel.”

1 Peter 5:5-14
Psalm 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17