Mc 16,15-20 – Saint Mark the Evangelist – Feast
The liturgy today makes us celebrate the evangelist Mark. The gratitude we owe him does not only consist in the fact that he is the author of the most ancient of the Gospels, but also in his own personal story, which is very similar to our experience. Mark, in fact, he does not belong to the group of the Twelve who followed Jesus during his public life. He is a “second generation” disciple. He approaches the Christian community through the testimony of the apostles, in particular of Peter, whose preaching he collects and transmits it in his Gospel.
This tells us something important: we too are believers thanks to the testimony of others. We were not direct witnesses, but we received a faith that was given to us. And we are called to make it our own to the full. This is why today’s celebration is also a warning. He invites us to take seriously the Gospel we hear. Precisely in the text that the liturgy proposes we read: “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature”. Announcing the Gospel, however, is not just a question of words. It has concrete consequences. The Gospel itself describes it through very strong signs: «In my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages… they will take serpents in their hands… they will lay their hands on the sick and they will heal». It’s not about looking for the sensational, but about understanding the profound meaning of these signs.
Announcing the Gospel means fight against evilnot letting yourself be poisoned by what hurts life, knowing how to overcome difficulties without becoming harsh or mean. It also means being close to those who suffer, caring, offering closeness, not holding back when faced with the needs of others. Ultimately, announcing the Gospel is not just saying something, but living in a certain way. It is letting the word heard become flesh in our lives. And so, as Mark received and transmitted, we too are called to do the same: welcome the Gospel and make it visible through our direct testimony.
Saturday 25 April 2026 – (San Marco Evangelista – Feast)
