Mark 16:15-20

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA MARY

Daily Meditation:  Mark 16:15-20

15 Then he told them, “Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation. 16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; the one who refuses to believe will be condemned. 17 Signs like these will accompany those who have believed: in my Name they will cast out demons and speak new langu­ages; 18 they will pick up snakes and, if they drink anything poisonous, they will be unharmed. They will lay their hands on the sick and they will be healed.”

19 So then, after speaking to them, the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven and took his place at the right hand of God. 20 The Eleven went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied them.

I believe in You my Beloved and because I am grafted in You through Baptism, I am commissioned by You to go out - in my home, in Church, in my workplace - in fact wherever I may be, and I must take You to everyone I encounter each day.  My witness must be the outcome of a lively faith and it must be eloquent in the way I live my life so that others too may come to know You, believe in You and be saved.

You make it very clear to us who will be saved, 

 

16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; the one who refuses to believe will be condemned. 

This is the unvarnished truth and is not very welcome by those who believe that truth is relative rather than objective.  What is even more unpalatable to them is that there is eternal and unchanging truth - that Truth has a Name and it is Your Name Beloved Jesus.  No one is condemned by You except those who make a personal choice to shuffle with Judas. 

We who believe as baptized Christians that we are called to mission by a personal invitation extended by You, do not go into the world to do battle, without being well armed and equipped by You to meet any challenge.  In Your mighty and powerful Name, the Name above every other name, evil will be destroyed and those who seek to destroy us will find that their plans will fail.  You will enable us to speak the language of the Holy Spirit through His unmatched gifts, which You will give us liberally to enable us accomplish Your work.  You assure us that we will lay our hands and heal for power will flow from You to us.  

You promise that we will work even greater signs and wonders than You did because You will manifest Your power working in us as we labor in Your vineyard and help to bring about the coming of God's Kingdom on earth.  This was true in the early Church and has been true through the ages.

Beloved, I am timid and diffident, I have not reached out and seized and taken hold of the promises You have made me.  

I have not allowed myself to work in faith relying with certainty on the Gifts of Your Holy Spirit that have been poured on me.

Help me Lord!

"My grace is with you.  You are never alone."