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.
— Mark 16 15-20
The Lord’s peace be with you. One of the themes running through many of our readings for the last week have been around obedience, trust, and accepting God’s will. These things are essential because they create the framework in which our belief is expressed. Today’s reading from the Gospel of Mark talks about the fruits of belief. Now please be careful here not to misinterpret this passage. The Lord is not asking you to do dangerous things or put his power of protection to the test. What he’s getting at here is that through our belief called to action in His name, he will do incredible works through us. In his name and through His power we become instruments for healing, conduits of understanding, ambassadors of peace and people filled with calm and confidence when facing dangerous situations. So please Lord help us: help me each day to grow closer to you, to live in greater harmony with you so that I, so that we, may become a faith filled instrument of your most holy will. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.