Andrea Mantegna: St. Mark the Evangelist
Das Städel, Frankfort am Main, c.1450

Feast of St. Mark, Evangelist:                                 Called to Work Signs and Wonders

Readings for Mass
First Reading: First Peter 5:5-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17
Gospel: Mark 16:15-20

And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it (NRSV, Mk 16:20).

Let us pray.

Father, when Barnabas traveled to Antioch, we read that a large number came to believe because Barnabas was a good man filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. When we accept your gift of life, Father, always offered us through the Word, now made flesh, dwelling within us, we are transformed. Your life fills us with great power that cannot help but radiate out from us to others.

Your Word has become a human in our Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the only mediator, Father, between you and us but the life and power that we receive from you through him can influence others to say “yes” to you through the Word as we have done.

If there is only one mediator, Father, you enable us through him to share in that mediation.

As the Lord Jesus worked signs and wonder during his life on earth, so we too are called, and indeed empowered, to work signs and wonders among one another.

May we ever be responsive to our calling that like Jesus we too may effectively proclaim the coming of the kingdom to our sisters and brothers.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.