FIRST READING
My son, Mark, sends you greetings.
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Peter (1 Peter 5:5b-14)
Beloved: Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility towards 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.
The word of the Lord
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm89:2-3.6-7.16-17 (R. see 2a)
R/. I will sing for ever of your mercies, O Lord.
Or: Alleluia.
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. R/.
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? R/.
R/. I will sing for ever of your mercies, O Lord.
Or: Alleluia.
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. R/.
ALLELUIA 1 Corinthians 1:23a-24b
Alleluia. We preach Christ crucified; the power of God and the wisdom of God. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Preach the Gospel to the whole creation. ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (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.
The Gospel of the Lord
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Saint Teresa of Avila postulates three prerequisites to spiritual life: Humility, detachment and love. She asserts that “humility situates persons within the realm of right relationships. They are in a place of truth before themselves and before God.” Today’s first Reading exalts this virtue as necessary in our relationship with God. God rewards the humble. Humility does not mean self-depreciation. It is a recognition that all we are and have comes from God. A saint once said that all is grace. If this is our attitude to life, we shall live in peace with one another and enrich one another with the gifts of ourselves. Jesus commissions us to go out and bring his message to everyone, while manifesting the signs of believers, speaking in tongues of love and charity