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A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

Jesus said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus appears to the Eleven and rebukes them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, for not believing those who saw him after the resurrection. I can only imagine what it was like as the risen Jesus called out those closest to him for their lack of faith.

God, help me understand how this event from long ago applies to me. If the Eleven lacked faith, surely my lack of faith is something Jesus would address on meeting me. Yet, what he says next to the disciples is not out of step with his rebuke; it is, instead, a means Jesus gives them to increase their faith. In telling them to go out and proclaim the Gospel to every creature, Jesus the Divine Physician diagnoses them and provides a cure: in order to confront unbelief, go out in faith to the whole world and boldly proclaim the Good News. To do this, Lord, is to do your will in the same way Peter and John proclaimed the Good News and performed miracles. When told not to speak the name of Jesus, Peter told the people who opposed him: “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” God, give me courage to speak the name of your Son, and help me recognize when you place the opportunity before me.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. Alleluia, alleluia.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.