Thomas Lima csc –
Readings: 1 Pt 5:5-14; Mk 16:15-20
Today’s first reading invites us to clothe ourselves with humility. Because “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” This is a quotation from Proverbs 3:34. When we lack humility, God stands against us. God is not with the proud. Now, everyone thinks they are humble. But our actions reflect whether we truly are humble.
Today’s gospel assures everyone that Christ has what a person needs for salvation. Jesus is the way; to follow Him, a person should believe and be baptized. But to fear no evil and truly follow the Lord, there needs to be a solid foundation of faith in a person. I have struggled, like many Christians, to be steady in my faith. This past year, I have found that the best way to stay close to Christ is to take time to pray. I choose a less random way of reading the Bible because I feel like God is talking directly to me and that He is telling me what I need to hear at that moment. This helps me feel closer to God. “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mk 16:15). This is only possible if we know what we are talking about.
In this gospel reading, Jesus is calling Christians to read the gospel and share its insights with their community, family, and friends. The Holy Spirit, no doubt, works in those who tell of the gospel. Since the Holy Spirit is present in our lives, we have nothing to fear!