+ Today’s readings start with a greeting and end with a departure.
Peter gently challenges leaders within the Christian community to live with humility and to be a loving community.
How true it is within any community how factions can develop; individuals can vie for power, control, or the top position. This is deadly stuff in a Christian community.
He put this in the strongest language and image as he describes it, thus —
“Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith.”
And, like the good pastor that he was, Peter encouraged them all not just to believe, but to live their faith oh so lovingly —
“Greet one another with a loving kiss.”
Good advice for all!
The Gospel gives us a departing speech by the Lord just before he was taken up into heaven. Actually, it is believed that, in the original, the Gospel of Mark ended at Chapter 16, Verse 8, very dramatically.
And it is further believed that sometime later this longer version came about, and now the ending ended with the same chapter and Verses 15 to 20.
Here, Jesus is just about to ascend to the Father as he speaks these incredibly powerful words to them about what they are to do and how they will be able to do it because of the power they will have.
In terms of a “goodbye” speech, it just doesn’t get any better! Jesus says of his followers that signs will accompany them —
“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.”
