As we near the end of the gospel of Mark one of the last statements that Jesus makes to his apostles is this commission or directive to go out and like Him preach the gospel. Throughout the centuries men and women have taken this directive and have preached the gospel in word and deed. Some would do this for a short time others would dedicate their entire life to a specific people and culture. In our parishes we welcome throughout the year missionary endeavors around the world. Priest come to tell us of the wonderful things that are happening around the world for the cause of Christ. We as faithful parishioners support these endeavors to continue that pattern of spreading the gospel. We take seriously these words of Jesus conveyed to His apostles here in Mark. Without this concerted, and collaborative effort the gospel would not be preached throughout the world and we would not be faithful to the words of Jesus. This is a great privilege and responsibility for everyone to share in the spreading of the gospel.
Why do we follow this command to spread the good news? The obvious reason is we are told to do so, but aside from that their is a great need in our world as in the ancient world for others to know Jesus as we know Him. If it is a great commission it is because their is a great need. Without Jesus men and women will perish and face an eternal hell and damnation. These same people will also live a life that has no eternal value or satisfaction. We know so many people today who try many different things in life to obtain some inner satisfaction but all these efforts are not enough to fill the void in their heart and soul. This is due to the fact that we have been created in God's image and until we are told the good news that Jesus died for our sins and we accept Him as our Lord and savior life is unfulfilled. There is nothing more empty then to have lived a life void of God. We are told by the psalmist that this is a foolish person who says there is no God, and thereby continues life void of Him. "The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none that does good." (Ps. 14:1) For this reason alone we have enough evidence to continue to exhaust our efforts to spread the good news. And certainly we have the greatest news to spread.
Man has been marred by the Fall from his original intention to acknowledge God and serve Him. The good news guides him and directs him back to his creator and God. Left without the saving knowledge of Jesus man is depraved. Why not tell them that they have a redeemer who shed his blood for their sins. The best part of that message is we did not have to do any of the work to save ourselves and we could not even if we tried. The beauty of this is that the church has preserved this faith and good news down through the centuries so that it is just as pure as the day Jesus said it and offered Himself for it on the cross. The Lord wanted us to take this news to every person. Our resources and efforts should always be pointed toward the lost. How many people have not partaken of the Eucharist yet we who call ourselves Catholics can partake of this every day of the week. The strength and power we attain from the Eucharist should fortify us to spread the gospel even more. You do not have to be a clerical missionary to spread the good news. All Christ asks is that you tell someone and show someone who He is. We can do this in many different ways in the midst of our busy lives. And we can also do this by our giving to these great missionary efforts throughout the world. Let us all pray together that we can do our part in the great commission and the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ. "But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in truth. To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thess. 2:13-14)
His servants and yours,
Gerard & Yolanda Cleffi Directors
Oratory of Divine Love
It is vanity to strive for perishable riches and to fix your hopes on them. It is vanity also to be over-eager for honors, or to consider your self better than others. It is vanity to follow blindly the desires of the flesh and to want things which will bring great penalty later on.
Anthony J. Paone, S.J., My Daily Bread, Brooklyn, NY, Confraternity of the Precious Blood, Pg.13
My loving Savior and merciful God, can I be so foolish as to think that I can find happiness without You? Can sin ever bring me true joy when it separates me from You, the Fountain of lasting joy? No. I hope, with Your help to keep my eyes fixed on You throughout my daily life. I hope to avoid whatever displeases You, and to live as You wish me to live each hour of the day. Your Will shows the way to undying peace and happiness. Let me love Your Will in all things. Amen.
Anthony J. Paone, S.J., My Daily Bread, Brooklyn, NY, Confraternity of the Precious Blood, Pg.12