april 25 2006

Mk 16:15-20 Jesus appeared to the Eleven 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.These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons,they will speak new languages. They 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.” Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere,while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
There are those who think of the charismatic healers when looking at this reading. Speaking in new languages, being bitten by snakes and being unharmed, healing the sick with a laying on of hands. I believe that God gives us all different charisms, gifts to further the Kingdom. Within every person is the power to be an instrument of God to promote healing to connect and communicate with those in need. For me the ability to be bitten by snakes and remain unharmed is figurative and symbolic. There are barriers to doing the will of God and following Jesus. There are those who are evil and would do harm to others. Christ protects true disciples from harm and evil. To do God's will and proclaim the Good News is the work of the true believers. Those who belong to God will be protected and provided for by God.