Humble Yourself that you may be Exalted!
(1 Peter 5:5b-14)
Beloved: Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you. Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you. Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you. To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God; stand fast in it. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you that are in Christ
Psalm 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17
I will sing for ever of your mercies, O Lord.
I will sing for ever of your mercies, O Lord; through all ages my mouth will proclaim your fidelity.
I have declared your mercy is established for ever, your fidelity stands firm as the heavens.
The heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your fidelity in the assembly of your holy ones.
For who in the skies can compare with the Lord, or who is like the Lord among the heavenly powers?
How blessed the people who know your praise, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, who find their joy every day in your name, who make your justice their joyful acclaim.
Acclamation: We preach Christ crucified; the power of God and the wisdom of Cod.
The Go Ye Mandate; Equipping against all Dangers
(Mark 16:15-20)
At that time: [Appearing to the Eleven,] Jesus said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.
Reflection
Jesus sends his missionaries all over the world to teach and to baptize. Those who refuse
to believe will be condemned. We should note that, in effect, it is not said that the one who does not opt for Baptism will be condemned. Those who maintain an attitude of culpable obstinacy in the face of the proposal of faith, and not the "non-believers" in the modern sense, are actually liable to be condemned. After speaking to the Eleven, Jesus was taken up into heaven. The missionary activity of the disciples with the Lord who "worked With them" concludes the gospel text. The Risen Lord continues to be present among his messengers; the community of believers needs to have those who bear its responsibilities, Yet they are not a substitute for the Lord who keeps working with and through them.