“You only truly believe that which moves you to action.”

“I have long since come to believe that people never mean half of what they say, and that it is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions."― Dorothy Day (1897 –1980: American journalist, social activist, and devout Catholic convert)

Gospel Text: (MK 16:15-20)

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Go into the whole world

and proclaim the gospel to every creature.

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.”

So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them,

was taken up into heaven

and took his seat at the right hand of God.

But they went forth and preached everywhere,

while the Lord worked with them

and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

In the Gospel reading today, Jesus gives us a police artist’s sketch to help us identify the perpetrators of his message of love and forgiveness.  They will be recognizable by their actions.  They will fight for justice and peace by driving out the demons of oppression and hatred.  They will learn new ways to proclaim ancient messages of hope so all might hear.  They will courageously handle and tend to the slippery and slithery sins of our society without being bitten by them.  They will ingest the bitter truths of our world without being destroyed by them.  They will extend healing hands to tend to the wounds of others.  

The question we must ask ourselves is: Do I fit this description?