I love watching “underdog” movies…you know, where someone fights for the impossible dream, against all odds, moving uphill every step of the way. In daily life we see inspiring examples all around us, and in the Church we know that with God’s grace we flourish in the midst of struggle.
On this Feast of St. Mark the evangelist we are reminded that all of us are called to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ – by our words, actions and example – so that others can see how the Lord brings power and joy to our lives.
Jesus reveals his divinity in John’s Gospel, and this truth becomes the foundation for our faith and the source of our hope as we configure our lives to Him.
The Scripture readings today all reference human hardship: suffering, battle and illness. Yet through it all we have hope as we see how God gives us the grace we need to overcome these challenges every time we turn to Christ.
The Transfiguration of Jesus offered three apostles a sign of hope as they journeyed on to Jerusalem where the Lord would be crucified. This moment of glory strengthened their faith to face the coming test of suffering and hardship, showing us that God gives us what we need to carry on.
We find in today’s gospel passage the stark evil surrounding the death of John the Baptist. All the elements in this passage are evil, driven by pride, hatred and jealousy. Our response? The Cross of Christ.
Jesus inspires us to let the light of faith shine through our lives. May we take courage in the darkness to let God’s light into our hearts and share it with those around us.
The readings today proclaim a message of hope – to strengthen, guide, and inspire our lives – because there are times in life where hope in God is what gets through the day.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we anchor our hope in a simple fact: Christ has been raised from the dead. The Lord’s triumph over sin and death fundamentally alters the universe and we have hope of eternal life. May the power of the resurrection direct every aspect of our lives!