＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

1Peter 5:5b-14

 All of you must clothe yourself

With humility in your dealings with one another, be­cause God opposes the proud but gives his grace to the humble.  Bow down, then, before the power of God so that he will raise you up at the appointed time.   Place all your worries on him since he takes care of you.

 Be sober and alert because your enemy the devil prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.   Stand your ground, firm in your faith, knowing that our brothers and sisters, scattered throughout the world, are confronting similar sufferings.   God, the giver of all grace, has called you to share in Christ’s eternal Glory and after you have suffered a little he will bring you to perfection: he will confirm, strengthen and establish you forever.   Glory be to him forever and ever. Amen.

 I have had these few lines of encouragement written to you by Sil­vanus, our brother, whom I know to be trustworthy. For I wanted to remind you of the kindness of God really present in all this. Hold on to it.

 Greetings from the community in Babylon, gathered by God, and from my son, Mark.  Greet one another with a friendly embrace. Peace to you all who are in Christ.

 

Ps 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Mark 16:15-20

 Then he told them, "Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; the one who refuses to believe will be condemned. Signs like these will accompany those who have believed: in my name they will cast out demons and speak new languages; 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."

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

 

Gospel Reflection：

Courting Miracles

 In July 2019, a pastor from Zimbabwe , wanting to convince his flock about the power of prayer, announced that he would walk on water on the following Sunday. He fasted and prayed for a week. At the designated day and time, in the presence of his family and believers, he entered the lake.

As he moved in, hoping to lift himself above the water, three crocodiles came from nowhere and devoured him. In a matter of minutes, what remained afloat were only a piece of his clothing and footwear. Sad! Whereas signs and miracles may accompany faith, we are not to put the Lord to the test.

Nor are we to take everything in the Bible literally either. Perhaps the new languages we are gifted to speak are the languages of love and forgiveness; the snakes we handle are the worldly deceptions; or the poison that does not affect us are the dangerous philosophies that the world feeds on. Our mission is to preach; as to the miraculous acts, let us leave them to God's discretion.

St.MARK

When Mark returned to Alexandria, the pagans of the city resented his efforts to turn the Alexandrians away from the worship of their traditional gods.

In AD 68, they placed a rope around his neck and dragged him through the streets until he was dead.