Proclaim the Good News
1Peter 5:5-14; Psalm 88; Mark 16:15-20
“Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned.” Jesus commanded his followers to go out and ‘proclaim the Good News to all creation’. Mark embraced this task and gave his best not only in the written gospel but also in his mission with Peter and Paul. Peter regarded him as a son on an account of his loyalty, love and simplicity towards him. True sons are humble and loyal. Thus, Peter says “All wrap yourselves in humility to be servants of each other, because God refuses the proud and will always favour the humble” (1Peter 5:5).
With references to some materials; Mark’s gospel is said to be the oldest of the gospels, even though Matthew appears first in the Bible. It is the most precise and concise in theology, and a source for the later works of Matthew and Luke. It is symbolized by a winged lion – a figure of courage and monarchy. The Lion also represents Jesus’ resurrection because lions were believed to sleep with open eyes, a comparison with Christ in the tomb and Christ as king.
Mark teaches us about love, truth, messiahship, discipleship, the nature of human beings, repentance, transformation, compassion, miracles, healing, faith, the divinity of Christ, the humanity of Christ, forgiveness, prayer, sin, righteousness, grace, law, covenants, salvation, family and the likes. The content of our message as proclaimers should be based on these outlines. Oftentimes, we are quick to spread the bad news not the Good News. Let us build a culture of true witnesses.
LET US PRAY
O God, who raised up Saint Mark, your Evangelist, and endowed him with the grace to preach the Gospel, grant, we pray, that we may so profit from his teaching as to follow faithfully in the footsteps of Christ. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. AMEN.
