The Commissioning of the Eleven

Today's Reflections

The Commissioning of the Eleven 

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Mk 16:15-20

¹⁵[Jesus] said to [the eleven,] “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. ¹⁸They will pick up serpents [with their hands], and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

¹⁹So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. ²⁰But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

Reflection:

Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Let us remember, first, that these words of Jesus are also addressed to us, for they were addressed to the eleven as representatives of the whole Church of all times. You and I are sent to proclaim the gospel not only or even primarily by our words but by our actions and lives that are done and lived according to Christ’s gospel.

Second, we must remember, especially when we hesitate because of our deficiencies, that the one who commands us is no other than the Lord who even now is seated in glory at the right hand of God, and is at the same time working with us as we fulfill our mission. The great Jesus is working with us! Let us do our share of the mission.

If I fail to do my share,

that part of the mission will be left undone.