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<v SPEAKER_00>Today the church celebrates the feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist.

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<v SPEAKER_00>There's something striking about Saint Mark.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He's not the most famous, he's not the most prominent, he's not the one who preached at Pentecost or wrote long theological letters.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And yet, without him, we would not have the gospel as we know it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Mark's story is not a straight line.

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<v SPEAKER_00>In fact, it begins with failure.

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<v SPEAKER_00>At one point in the early church, Mark abandons the mission.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He leaves Paul and Barnabas in the middle of their work.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And it causes such a sharp disagreement that Paul refuses to take him again.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Imagine that.

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<v SPEAKER_00>A man who would one day write the gospel once walked away from the mission.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And yet that's not the end of his story.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because later we see something different.

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<v SPEAKER_00>In the reading today, Saint Peter writes, Mark, my son.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's not just a title, that's a relationship.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Mark becomes a spiritual son to Peter.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He walks with him, he learns from him, he listens.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And from that closeness, from that lived experience of Christ through Peter, he writes the gospel.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Here's what makes Mark unique.

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<v SPEAKER_00>There's no long introduction, no extended genealogy, no drawn-out discourse.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's movement, action, mission.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because Mark understood something.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The gospel is not meant to be admired, it's meant to be proclaimed.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And that's exactly what we hear in the gospel today.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Go, go into the whole world and to proclaim the gospel to every creature.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not don't wait.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Don't not prepare forever or make sure everything is perfect before you go.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No, go right now.

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<v SPEAKER_00>There's urgency in his voice.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That command is not just for the apostles, it is for the church and it is for you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But here's where it gets real for us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Saint Peter in the first reading gives us the interior life required for that mission.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He says, clothe yourselves with humility.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because pride kills mission.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Pride makes it about you, your image, your ego, your comfort, your control.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But humility frees you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Humility says, this is not about me, this is about Christ.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then Peter says something even more direct.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Be sober and vigilant.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Your opponent, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's not symbolic language.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's reality.

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<v SPEAKER_00>There is a real enemy, a real battle, a real spiritual war, and he's after you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And the goal is simple.

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<v SPEAKER_00>His goal is to devour your faith, to distract you, to discourage you, to entice you into all these worldly things so that he can keep you passive.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because if the enemy can keep you quiet, he doesn't have to defeat you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But Mark didn't stay quiet.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Even after failure, even after weakness, even after walking away, he came back.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And he gave us his life proclaiming Christ.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And that's the hope for all of us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because maybe you don't feel like a great evangelist.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe you don't feel like you've failed, like you've drifted, like you've missed your moment.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But look at Mark.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God doesn't discard him, God forms him, God strengthens him, God uses him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And that's what Peter promises.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The God of all grace will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not instantly, but faithfully.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then the gospel ends with a line that should give you confidence.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They went forth and preached everywhere while the Lord worked with them.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's the key.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The Lord worked with them.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You're not doing this alone.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You don't have to have all the answers.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You don't have to be perfect.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You don't have to be ready in every way.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You just have to be willing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So here's a question for this Saturday.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Are you living a faith that stays with you or a faith that moves through you?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because the gospel was never meant to stop at you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It was meant to pass through you, into your family, into your workplace, into your friendships, into all your relationships.

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<v SPEAKER_00>St.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Mark didn't let this, his past define him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He let Christ define him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And that's the invitation today.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Clothe yourself with humility.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Stay vigilant.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Resist the enemy.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Trust that God is working, and then go.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because the world does not need more people who know about Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It needs people who are willing to proclaim Jesus Christ.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And when you do, he will do what he has always done.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He will work with you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Amen.