Daily Gospel – Saturday, January 25, 2025 – Mark 16,15-18 – Catholic Bible

First Reading (Acts 22,3-16).

Reading of the Acts of the Apostles.

In those days, Paul said to the people: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but I was raised here in this city. As a disciple of Gamaliel, I was instructed in all the rigor of the Law of our ancestors, making me zealous for the cause of God, as is the case with you today, I persecuted those who followed this Path to the death, arresting men and women and throwing them into prison. The High Priest and the entire council of men are my witnesses. elders. They gave me letters of recommendation to the brothers in Damascus. I went there to arrest everyone I found and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished. Near Damascus, at noon, suddenly a great light from the sky shone around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me: ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He answered me: ‘I am Jesus, the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ My companions saw the light, but they did not hear the voice that spoke to me. So I asked: ‘What should I do, Lord?’ The Lord answered me: ‘Get up and go to Damascus. There they will explain to you everything you must do.’ As I could not see, because of the brightness of that light, I arrived in Damascus guided by the hand of my companions. , a pious and law-abiding man, with a good reputation among all the Jews who lived there, came to meet me and said: ‘Saul, my brother, recover your sight!’ At the same moment, I regained my sight and could see him. He then said to me: ‘The God of our ancestors chose you to know his will, to see the Just and to hear his own voice. witness before all men of what you have seen and heard. And now, what are you waiting for? Arise, receive baptism and be cleansed from your sins, calling on his name!’ “Word of the Lord.

– Word of the Lord.

– Thank God.

Gospel (Mark 16,15-18).

Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.

— Glory to you, Lord.

At that time, Jesus manifested himself to the eleven disciples, and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature! Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. Whoever does not believe will be condemned. The signs that will accompany those who believe will be these: they will cast out demons in my name, they will speak in new tongues; if they pick up serpents or drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; when they lay hands on the sick, they will be healed.”

— Word of Salvation.

— Glory to you, Lord.

Reflecting the Word of God

My dear brothers and sisters, in Christ, today’s gospel and the passage from the Acts of the Apostles invite us to reflect deeply on God’s call on our lives, on how we respond to His invitation, and on the transforming power of His grace. These are two readings that tell us about mission, transformation and the courage needed to follow Christ in an often challenging world.

Let’s start with St. Paul’s account in the Acts of the Apostles. He tells us his story, his life journey, and the dramatic transformation he experienced on the road to Damascus. Before his conversion, Paul was a fierce persecutor of Christians. He was convinced that he was doing God’s will by hunting down those who followed Jesus. But, as we know, God has very different plans for each of us.

Saint Paul tells us: “I am a Jew, I was born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but I was raised in this city; I educated myself at the feet of Gamaliel, according to the exactness of the law of the fathers, being zealous for God, as you all are today.” He presents himself to us as someone who was deeply religious, someone who grew up in the Jewish tradition and who thought he was serving God by fighting against the new religion that was emerging. What he thought was a righteous mission was actually in direct opposition to the divine will.

Then, my friends, comes the crucial moment, the turning point, the encounter with Christ. On the way to Damascus, Saint Paul is blinded by an intense light, and a voice speaks to him: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” This experience not only blinded his eyes physically, but opened his spiritual eyes. He went from persecutor to follower of Christ, from enemy of the Church to one of the greatest preachers of the gospel who ever lived.

This shows us something very important: God’s grace has no limits. Even those we think are furthest from God, or those who are trapped in a life of error and sin, can be touched by divine grace and transformed. Paul teaches us that no heart is immune to the power of Christ. When God calls, He transforms even the most impossible situations.

Saint Paul, after his conversion, was immediately baptized and thus received a new purpose for his life: to be a witness to Christ. This brings us to the next part of our reflection: the mission that God entrusts to us.

In Mark’s gospel, we hear Jesus’ commission to his disciples: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Jesus gives us a clear and universal mission, a mission that has no borders, a mission that is for all people, for all nations. When He sends us, He doesn’t say, “If you can, go and preach.” He commands us: “Go.” There are no exceptions.

These words of Jesus are not just for the apostles, they are not just for those who lived with Him physically. They are for all of us, for each one of us, baptized into Christ. We are all called to be His disciples and to bring His message of love, hope and salvation to others.

This mission is not easy. Like Saint Paul, we also face difficulties and persecution. But what is most important is that, like Saint Paul, we are clothed with the power of the Holy Spirit. In the gospel, Jesus reminds us: “They will cast out demons in my name, they will speak in new languages, they will take up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will not harm them.” He gives us the power to do the impossible, to live in a supernatural way, with His help.

I know that we often feel like we don’t have the courage or resources to carry out God’s mission. We think that, like Paul before his conversion, we are inadequate, weak, or unworthy. But the truth is that God does not call us because we are perfect or powerful, but because He wants His grace to be manifested in our weakness. It is the moment we recognize our need for God that He becomes our strength.

When Jesus says He will “bring them no harm,” He is reminding us that although we may face obstacles, there is nothing that can separate us from His love. When we are with Christ, nothing is impossible. Like Saint Paul, we can be powerful instruments in the hands of God, transforming the world around us, not by our strength, but by His power that acts in us.

Now, let us look at the mission of São Paulo and our mission. He went from a man who killed to a man who gave his life by faith. He was not afraid to proclaim the gospel, even knowing the persecution he would suffer. He knew that God’s mission is not just any task, but the most important one we can have in life.

My dear brothers and sisters, the mission that Jesus entrusts to us is also our great opportunity. We are not just being called to a life of comfort or security, but to a life of dedication, courage and action. The mission of preaching the gospel is not something optional for Christians; it is a commandment from our Lord. If we are His disciples, we must go and preach. It doesn’t matter where, it doesn’t matter how. The important thing is that Christ’s message reaches everyone.

This can be done in different ways. We don’t need to go around the world preaching in large squares or cities. The gospel begins within us, and our mission can begin at home, at work, at school, with friends. Every act of kindness, every word of encouragement, every gesture of helping others is a way of evangelizing.

I know that we are often afraid to talk about our faith. The modern world can be hostile, indifferent, even mocking the Christian faith. But Jesus tells us not to fear. He will be with us at all times. As He was with Saint Paul, He will be with us in our mission. He does not abandon us.

Therefore, the question we must ask ourselves today is: how are we responding to God’s call? How are we fulfilling Christ’s mission in our lives? Are we willing to live for Him and for others, to be light where there is darkness, to bring His word of love and salvation to everyone around us?

May we renew our commitment to the mission that God entrusts to us today. May we follow the example of Saint Paul, who, when touched by God’s grace, got up and went to preach the gospel with courage. And that, as Jesus sent us, we can also go and preach, bringing His love to the world.

May God give us the grace to be faithful to His calling, and that, like Saint Paul, we can be powerful instruments for His glory. Amen.