Mark The Lion

We celebrate the Feast of St. Mark, the Evangelist and Patron of the City of Venice.  He is the first to have written an account of the life and mission of Jesus, scholars think around the year 70. A.D. Because his gospel begins with John the Baptist preaching in the desert. the lion. Lord of the Desert, was chosen as the symbol of Mark the Evangelist.  He evidently preached in Alexandria, founded a school there, was its bishop and there was martyred . His relics were brought to Venice in 828, and have remained there since...The famous and beautiful cathedral is named after him.
His gospel concludes with the command go "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mk 16: 15-16). Jesus promised that signs and wonders would accompany their preaching and we read about them in the Acts of the Apostles.
The mission remains and it is our task to continue preaching by deed and word.  Let us be mindful of that today and find some way to implement it.
Bro. Rene