Baptismal Shield

Today is the Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, and our Gospel reading (Mark 16:15-20) emphasizes baptism and salvation.    This focus is quite consistent with the purpose of this Gospel attributed to Mark.  As one author has claimed: “…sections of Mark were composed to meet the early Church’s liturgical needs to Christianize a prevailing synagogue practice – and, in the process, to provide authoritative teaching from the Lord to serve as the basis for the instruction for the catechumenate who were seeking baptism.”   Being involved in RCIA for many years, I can see the connection.

If I was a non-Christian during Mark’s time soon after the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD, I would have been attracted to what the Christian community claimed:  “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. 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.”  Outing demons, being multilingual and a snake-handler, as well as being immune to poisons, would have compelled me to convert through baptism without any hesitation.

Then we have the first letter from Peter (1st reading) written around the year 90 with Peter likely being a leader in a Christ-community of Rome.   He reminds us why being baptized, thus a  Christian, is a weapon against adversity.  He said:  “Cast all your worries upon him [God] because he cares for you.  Be sober and vigilant.  Your opponent the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your brothers and sisters throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.  The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little.  To him be dominion forever.   Amen.”

We all face “roaring lions” every day – temptations of all sorts seeking to devour us.    Let’s all draw upon our baptisms and cast our worries upon God who knows we suffer and cares.

Deacon David Pierce