1 Peter 5:5-14 / Mark 16:15-20 (2020)
St Mark was not one the the 12 Apostles. Known as John Mark who is mentioned in the 1st reading, he was a cousin of Barnabas, and he also accompanied St. Paul in his missionary journeys and he also worked closely with St. Peter in Rome.
So though St. Mark was not an "Apostle" (as in being one the chosen Twelve) he wrote an account which became known as the "Gospel according to St. Mark.
When we read that gospel, we also get an idea of the person of St Mark and what he thought of Jesus.
He does not focus on the lengthy teachings of Jesus (the gospel has only 16 chapters) but more on the deeds of Jesus and His power over evil and sickness.
As we heard in today's gospel which is from St. Mark, the emphasis is on the "signs" that Jesus had worked in His ministry and Jesus expected those signs to be continued in His disciples.
And those signs are indeed spectacular - cast out devils; gift of tongues; picking up snakes; unharmed by deadly poison; laying hands on the sick who will recover.
These are not only what Jesus did, but what His disciples did too as they went off to preach the Good News and these signs are associated with them.
And it was the underlying expectation of St. Mark that Christians in every age and time would work these signs and wonders so as to bring people to the faith.
So if these signs are not associated with us in this age and time, then what can the problem be? Is it a lack of faith, or doubt. Or as Jesus puts it - "In my name they will ... "
Are we doing it in the name of Jesus, or are we doing it to make a name for ourselves.
May all we say and do be in the name of Jesus, may we come to know Jesus as St. Mark did, so that at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.