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Vocations Provide Hope Founded In Faith
Protection Of Human Dignity Continues To Challenge World
In Defense Of Life Nothing Changes
Prison To Praise: The Bond Of Marriage
Light to the Nations: A Christian Perspective on World News
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Thursday, April 25, 2013, St. Mark
1 Peter 5:5-14, Psalm 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17, Mark 16:15-20
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/042513.cfm
A MARKED IMPROVEMENT
"The church that is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greeting, as does Mark my son." -1 Peter 5:13
Mark (John Mark) quit the first missionary journey in the history of the Christian people (Acts 13:13). In retrospect, this journey turned out to be one of the greatest events in history, and Mark made the horrendous mistake of quitting.
However, Mark became the writer of the second Gospel, a canonized saint, and one of the greatest people in history. Mark fell, but he got up. Better yet, he stayed up. It's not good enough to get up after we fall. We must ask for God's grace to correct the reason for the fall, so we don't fall again.
Mark quit the first missionary journey after seeing Paul call for God to strike Elymas blind (Acts 13:11). Mark may have been shaken by the intensity of the spiritual warfare that occurred. However, Mark must have corrected his problem, since he later wrote of expelling demons, handling serpents, and drinking poisons without harm (Mk 16:17-18).
Mark may have quit the first missionary journey because God raised up Paul to lead this journey, although Mark's cousin, Barnabas, was originally the leader (cf Acts 13:1, 2, 7 and 13:13). Mark may have needed to learn to submit to his elders and to clothe himself with humility (1 Pt 5:5). He learned to "bow humbly under God's mighty hand, so that in due time" (1 Pt 5:6) God lifted Mark up to write one of the Gospels.
If you've fallen, get up and stay up by correcting the reason why you fell.
Prayer: Father, correct me.
Promise: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation. The man who believes in it and accepts baptism will be saved; the man who refuses to believe in it will be condemned." -Mk 16:15-16
Praise: In his gospel, St. Mark told the good news that we've been given a second chance through the mercy of Jesus.
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from April 1, 2013 through May 31, 2013
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, November 2, 2012
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
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