The early Church, and St. Mark, did their very best to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world (Mk 16:15). The apostles and disciples used every means available to them in the time of Christ: traveling on foot over many miles, meeting people in public places, synagogues, the Temple, in homes, etc. St. Mark, also known as John (Acts 13:5, 13) and John Mark (Acts 12:12, 25; 15:37), even was a member of the first missionary journey.

Finally, St. Mark, trying to permeate the culture with the Gospel of Jesus (see Catechism, 899), found a new means to share the Good News. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he developed a new format, the written word in the form of a Gospel narrative. This format stands the test of time. Even two-thousand years later, many millions of people have read this Gospel and have given their lives to Jesus. Many people in heaven are there now because of St. Mark's innovation and dedication to spreading the Word of God. Many of you who read this share such hope.

Be a St. Mark. In this modern age, there are so many ways to communicate that didn't exist in St. Mark's time, due to technology. The possibility exists to span the globe through social media, webpages, e-mail, text messaging, and so on. Moreover, studies show that the traditional person-to-person contact still remains the most effective means to reach a person's heart. May you discover a lasting means to reach many with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 12, 2017

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