are you learning your lessons?
"Bow humbly under God's mighty hand, so that in due time He may lift you high." —1 Peter 5:6
John Mark, later known to the world as St. Mark, learned about the power of communal prayer when he saw Peter miraculously freed from prison through the prayers of those gathered at his mother's house (Acts 12:12ff).
John Mark learned about serving the poor and building unity between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians when he accompanied Barnabas and Paul on a relief mission (Acts 12:25).
John Mark learned about spiritual warfare and his own weaknesses when he quit the first missionary journey of the early Church (Acts 13:13).
John Mark learned that we don't always get a second chance when Paul refused to take him on a second missionary journey (Acts 15:38). He learned that we sometimes do get a second chance when Barnabas took him on a missionary journey (Acts 15:39). John Mark learned more about Jesus and His Church when he was spiritually adopted by Peter (1 Pt 5:13).
John Mark learned about Jesus, the Church, prayer, the poor, unity, mission, people, and life. Then the Lord chose John Mark to write one of the Gospels. The Holy Spirit graced John Mark to write some of the most important words ever written.
The Lord is teaching you now. If you learn your lessons, you will see the Holy Spirit work through you in wondrous ways.
Prayer: Father, may I be docile every day.
Promise: "The Lord continued to work with them throughout and confirm the message through the signs which accompanied them." —Mk 16:20
Praise: The world heard the good news in the form of a gospel from the pen of John Mark. St. Mark began a new era in evangelization when he wrote: "Here begins the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (Mk 1:1).
Reference: (Some readers serve as distributors of One Bread, One Body. If God is calling you to this ministry, please call us at 513-662-5378.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 21, 2014
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