Signs which accompany the Believers

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Easter Season : Third Week:  Saturday*

*Gospel :  Mark 16: 15-20*

*First Reading : 1 Peter 5:5-14*

*Responsorial Psalm : 89: 2-17*

*Signs which accompany the Believers*

*1) What signs are mentioned?*

According to the passage, believers will:

Cast out demons (deliverance from evil powers)

Speak in new tongues (languages not previously known to them)

Pick up serpents (symbol of protection from harm)

Drink deadly poison without harm (divine protection)

Lay hands on the sick and heal them

These are presented not as goals in themselves, but as signs accompanying faith and the proclamation of the gospel.

*2) How are these understood today?*

*A) Symbolic / theological view*

“Casting out demons” → overcoming evil, injustice, or destructive patterns

“New tongues” → communicating the gospel across cultures and barriers

“Serpents/poison” → surviving spiritual and moral dangers

“Healing” → restoration—physical, emotional, relational

Here, the emphasis is on transformation and mission, not miraculous display.

*3) What are “visible signs” in today’s context?*

Changed lives: people overcoming addiction, hatred, or despair

Courage and faith under pressure

Cross-cultural unity: people from different backgrounds united

Compassion and healing presence: caring for the sick, marginalized

Spiritual resilience: enduring hardship without losing hope

Some times there are also claims of: Physical healings, Deliverance experiences, Speaking in tongues

*4) Spread of the Gospel : A Powerful Visible Sign*

*A) The message moves beyond barriers* : From the beginning, the Gospel crossed boundaries of language, culture, and geography (as seen in **Acts of the Apostles). Today, it continues to spread across nations, social classes, and even digital spaces. This ongoing expansion—despite differences—is a sign of a message that carries enduring power.

*B) Growth often happens under resistance* : Historically and even now, the Gospel has spread in contexts of opposition, persecution, or restriction. Instead of stopping it, challenges often refine and strengthen faith communities. The persistence of the message under pressure becomes a visible testimony in itself.

*C) Ordinary people become witnesses* : The spread is not limited to leaders or scholars. Everyday believers share faith through relationships, service, and personal testimony. This reflects the promise that the message is carried not by human strength alone, but through transformed lives.

*D) Transformation attracts attention* : Where the Gospel takes root, changes in individuals and communities often follow—reconciliation, hope, ethical living. These visible transformations draw curiosity and openness, contributing to the continued spread of the message.

*E) The mission continues across generations* : Despite centuries passing, the core message remains alive and active. Each generation receives it, reshapes how it is communicated, and passes it on. This استمرار (continuity) itself can be seen as a sign of something deeper sustaining the mission beyond human effort.

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*