Sunday Gospel Reflection by Bishop Parkes: Have you ever been asked to do something that you didn’t feel capable of doing? Maybe the task seemed too big, or you felt that you weren’t qualified to accomplish it. The fear of failure can sometimes cripple us if we allow it to. This is likely how the disciples felt in our Gospel reading from St. Mark that we hear today on this Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord.
We are a joyful community of disciples proclaiming the Good News and inviting all people to encounter the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.
Read the Gospel reflection by Bishop Parkes below or click here to listen to it.
Witnessing to Our Faith
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.'” – Mark 16:15
Have you ever been asked to do something that you didn’t feel capable of doing? Maybe the task seemed too big, or you felt that you weren’t qualified to accomplish it. The fear of failure can sometimes cripple us if we allow it to. This is likely how the disciples felt in our Gospel reading from St. Mark that we hear today on this Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord.
Jesus is about to be taken up to Heaven where He will take His seat at the right hand of God. But before He ascends, He gives His disciples a command. He says, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” This had to seem like a huge task to the disciples. Perhaps they thought to themselves, “How are we going to proclaim the Gospel to every creature? After all, we’re small in number.” However, the Gospel tells us that “they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word with accompanying signs.” In other words, they were not alone. The Lord was at their side as they undertook the mission that had been given to them. He worked with them.
Through our baptism we have also been given the task and mission of spreading the Good News through our words and actions. Does this seem like too big a task for us to undertake? After all, we might say, “I’m weak and a sinner. I sometimes struggle with my own faith. How am I going to preach the Good News to others?” We must remember that like the disciples, we are not alone. We’re guided by the Holy Spirit, and Jesus walks alongside us throughout life. But we need to have the courage to ask for His help in witnessing to our faith – particularly at those moments when we feel doubt. If we do so, He won’t let us down.”
Testigos de nuestra fe
En aquel tiempo, se apareció Jesús a los Once y les dijo: “Vayan por todo el mundo y prediquen el Evangelio a toda creatura”. – Marcos 16, 15
¿Te han pedido alguna vez hacer algo que no te sentías capaz de hacer? Tal vez la tarea te parecía demasiado grande o te parecía que no estabas capacitado para llevarla a cabo. El miedo al fracaso puede a veces paralizarnos si lo permitimos. Es probable que así se sintieran los discípulos en el Evangelio según san Marcos que escuchamos hoy en esta Solemnidad de la Ascensión del Señor.
Jesús está a punto de subir al cielo, donde se sentará a la derecha de Dios. Pero antes de ascender da a sus discípulos un mandamiento. Les dice: "Vayan por todo el mundo y prediquen el Evangelio a toda creatura". Esto tuvo que parecerles una tarea enorme a los discípulos. Tal vez pensaron: "¿Cómo vamos a proclamar el Evangelio a toda creatura? Sólo somos unos pocos". Sin embargo, el Evangelio nos dice que "fueron y proclamaron el Evangelio por todas partes, y el Señor actuaba con ellos y confirmaba su predicación con los milagros que hacían". En otras palabras, no estaban solos. El Señor estaba a su lado mientras emprendían la misión que se les había encomendado. El Señor trabajaba con ellos.
Por medio de nuestro Bautismo nos ha encomendado también a nosotros la tarea y la misión de difundir la buena nueva con nuestras palabras y obras. ¿Nos parece una tarea demasiado grande para nosotros? Después de todo, podríamos decir: “Soy débil y pecador. A veces lucho con mi propia fe, ¿cómo voy a predicar la buena nueva a los demás?” Debemos recordar que, como los discípulos, no estamos solos. Somos guiados por el Espíritu Santo y Jesús camina a nuestro lado a lo largo de la vida. Pero debemos tener el valor de pedirle ayuda para dar testimonio de nuestra fe, sobre todo en los momentos en que nos acosan las dudas. Dios no nos defraudará.
Reflection by:
Most Reverend Gregory L. Parkes is the fifth Bishop of St. Petersburg. Prior to his appointment to the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Bishop Parkes served as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee from 2012-2016. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Orlando on June 26, 1999. Before answering the call to the priesthood, Bishop Parkes worked for several years in Tampa’s banking industry.
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