25 April 2020 - Mark, his words

Today's Readings

(Audio)

Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.

We are called, no less than the Eleven, to proclaim the Gospel to every creature. We are promised special and miraculous help and protection, confirmation of our words through accompanying signs. Why, then, are we so reluctant to speak about the good news? And where are these supposed miracles?

Clothe yourselves with humility
in your dealings with one another, for:

God opposes the proud
but bestows favor on the humble.

We imagine ourselves as too humble to proclaim the Gospel, too humble for signs and wonders to be done through us. But it is very often not humility, but pride and self-protection that constrains us. We are in fact too self reliant. We afraid to try anything that exceeds what is natural for us. In the final measure our decision not to speak up is because our abilities are obviously insufficient to the task. Our worldly wisdom won't prove the resurrection. We can cause no signs and wonders to reveal the divinity of Christ.

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.

True humility is too humble even for our limitations. It is a virtue that relies on and trusts in God even before it considers ones own abilities or qualifications. Cares do arise in the hearts of the humble and the hearts of the proud. But the hearts of the humble are able to cast their cares upon Jesus, to surrender them to him because they are convinced of his love for them.

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him (see First John 4:16).

Humility is not the same as passivity. Humility is in fact of active posture in which one chooses to care more about God's heart and will than ones own. Humility doesn't make one more susceptible to temptation because one sees herself as too weak to resist. It rather makes her  stronger against it because she knows that God can be strong and powerful even in her own weakness.

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,

Humility gives us a power that makes us able to navigate difficult circumstances and even sufferings, still able to proclaim the Gospel with no less power or conviction.  It in fact makes those sufferings into the very instruments that renew us in God's love.

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.

Lion of Judah by Robin Mark

Shout to the Lord by Darlene Zschech

Saint Mark, pray for us!