Bishop of Rome

Today is the feast day of Saint Mark. I must say I know very little about him. This is the write up about him that I read this morning:
"St. Mark the Evangelist (1st c.) was born to Jewish parents living in Libya in North Africa, later settling in Cana of Galilee not far from Jerusalem. Mark became one of the 70 disciples of Jesus and the author of the Gospel that bears his name. According to tradition, St. Peter the Apostle was married to a relative of St. Mark's father, and after Mark's father died, Peter looked after him like his own son. Being a close disciple of St. Peter, the first Bishop of Rome, Mark's Gospel is addressed to Gentile converts to the Christian faith living in Rome. Most of what we know about his life and missionary activity is recorded in the New Testament. He traveled to Egypt and founded the Church there, and was martyred c. 68 A.D. by being dragged through the streets of Alexandria until his body was torn to pieces. St. Mark is the patron of lawyers and prisoners. His feast day is April 25."

Today's scripture reading is taken from  1 Peter 5:5-14 and Mark 16:15-20. Along with the selected verses in the Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17) the theme is very clear: we have been given the Great Commission:
“Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)

We have been given the divine promise of God's presence (Matthew 28:18-20) and His power over our earthly and spiritual enemies.

The relationship between Saint Peter and Saint Mark is interesting. He admonished the young church in 1 Peter 5:5,

"you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for
“God opposes the proud,
    but gives grace to the humble.”


Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time."

It's easy to question authority, especially when there are scandals among the hierarchy in the church. The Pope, who is the "Bishop of Rome" has been given divine authority by Jesus through the first Pope Saint Peter:
"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
 (Matthew 16:17-19)

Sure we have anxiety. We are anxious that our beloved church will conform to the relativistic culture. But Jesus has promised, "Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

There will be fierce opposition. But we are called to be disciplined and remain steadfast in our faith:
"Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:8-10)


And finally, an interesting bible trivia. In 1 Peter 5:13, Saint Peter wrote,
"Your sister church in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark."
Who is "The chosen one at Babylon"?
I found this Catholic teaching which helps me the most:
"Peter's presence in Rome is indicated in his first letter. The name "Babylon" is used here as a cryptic name for the city of Rome, a characteristic of writings done during times of persecution. During Peter's time (witnessed by his own martyrdom) and most New Testament times (witness the Book of Revelation--classic persecution literature), Rome took on the characteristics of the most outstanding example of a world power hostile to God--ancient Babylon. "

I think the Vatican, the chosen one at Babylon, is in no less persecution than in throughout history, but particularly in more recent time. It's not the kind of persecution when God's people were fed to the lions, but the infiltration of God's enemies into our church has attempted to destroy the church from within. We must heed Saint Peter's words afresh. To be disciplined and remain steadfast in our faith.

Additional reading:
Was Peter the First Pope?
http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/apologia/firstpope2.html

Pope Fiction: Answers to Five Myths and Misconceptions About the Papacy
https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/religion-and-philosophy/apologetics/pope-fiction-answers-to-five-myths-and-misconceptions-about-the-papacy.html

Christ in You the Hope of Glory

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday - the 8th day after Jesus' Resurrection from the Dead. I was particularly blessed by today's Office of Readings. Psalm 2:1-3 asks a very relevant question during this cultural war our Holy Church is faced with:
"Why do the nations conspire,
    and the peoples plot in vain? 
 The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and his anointed, saying, 
 “Let us burst their bonds asunder,    and cast their cords from us.”"

What is the reason for the "culture of death" (i.e. rampant abortion and euthanasia) and the "gender confusion" (the LGBTQIA...)? It says in verse 3 that "the peoples", including those in high places, are rebelling against God's truth which are "bonds" and "cords" against their freedom to do whatever they want. That's why there is such a strong push back against the church and church's teaching, especially widespread in the western civilization. The push for social justice and equality appears to be a good thing but underneath it all is a desire to be free but without responsibility. The foundation of western civilization has been based on the influence of Judo-Christian teaching. Now they want to abolish it. What is to come of our world?

In Psalm 2:4-6 God says,
"He who sits in the heavens laughs;
    the Lord has them in derision. 
 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
    and terrify them in his fury, saying, 
 “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.”"

What does the COVID-19 pandemic and Easter teach us? God is in charge and He reminds us what is needed, once again - salvation through Jesus and Him alone!
In Psalm 2:7-9,
"I will tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, “You are my son;
    today I have begotten you. 
 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
    and the ends of the earth your possession. 
 You shall break them with a rod of iron,    and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”"

And Psalm 2:10-12 concludes,
"Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth. 
 Serve the Lord with fear,
    with trembling kiss his feet,
or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way;
    for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Happy are all who take refuge in him."

The title of today's post "Christ in You the Hope of Glory" is taken from Colossians 1:27,
"To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

First of all - it is a mystery, but it's a glorious mystery! From the reading of Colossians 3:1-17 and the sermon by Saint Augustine "A new creation in Christ", I learn several lessons:

(1) Through baptism I am born again and have been given a gift which is the church: "I speak to you who have just been reborn in baptism, my little children in Christ, you who are the new offspring of the Church, gift of the Father, proof of Mother Church’s fruitfulness.". Anyone who says baptism is only symbolic and is optional is not telling the truth!

(2) Also through baptism "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me" (Galatians 2:19-20) and "So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God, Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,  for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:1-2). Baptism did more than washing away my sin, it changed me from the inside where Christ chooses to dwell, and through Him I live the resurrected life.

(3) The new "code of conduct" (Colossians 3:5, 8-9, 12-14, 15-17) is a prescription for me to live a happy life: "Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry)... But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another... clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony... and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.". No amount of early success, power and fame, short term enjoyment will bring true and lasting happiness.

(4) Let God do His work in us... "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom". So we are equipped to be witnesses to a fallen world.

(5) Look forward to the Hope of Glory! "When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory." (Colossians 3:4), and Saint Augustine said, "And so your own hope of resurrection, though not yet realised, is sure and certain, because you have received the sacrament or sign of this reality, and have been given the pledge of the Spirit. If, then, you have risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your hearts on heavenly things, not the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, your life, appears, then you too will appear with him in glory."

Lastly, Saint Augustine provided evidence of a definite link between Baptism in the New Testament and Circumcision in the Old Testament:

"This is the octave (8th) day of your new birth (those baptized on Easter Sunday). Today is fulfilled in you the sign of faith that was prefigured in the Old Testament by the circumcision of the flesh on the eighth day after birth" 

 

So let us pray:

God of eternal compassion,

  each Easter you rekindle the faith of your consecrated people.

Give them still greater grace, so that all may truly understand

  the waters in which they were cleansed,

  the Spirit by which they were reborn,

  the blood by which they were redeemed.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

  who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

  one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

 

Let us praise the Lord.

– Thanks be to God.