The Strength for the Mission

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today celebrate the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist. The passage from the first Letter of Peter offers advice to those embarking on the mission presented by Jesus to His disciples in the account of His Ascension into heaven from Mark’s Gospel. Mark lived with Peter in Rome and wrote his Gospel after Peter’s execution. Peter offers advice on the value of a disposition of humility and a deep trust that even though difficulties and temptation will be experienced by those who live the mission of Jesus. The relationship with the Divine will “restore, support, strengthen, and establish you”. The psalmist recognizes the source of the strength and glory of Israel is the Covenant that exists between God and the people. The fruits of this intimate relationship will be seen by all the people who come in contact with Israel. Mark presents Jesus commission to His disciples as He ascends bodily away from them. As His Body in the world, Christians are to proclaim the Good News that Jesus is the Son of God by being the “gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1)”. The strength to be Christ in the world will come through the intimate relationship with Him through the indwelling Spirit. The fruit of this mission will be in compassion, forgiveness, peace, healing and joy.