One of the many things I love about my Parish is that we wish each other “Peace be with you” and for most we will follow up with a hug. Very much in line with St Peter’s call to greet one another with a kiss. For it is an external expression of an internal love with have for one another through the body of Christ Jesus.
Who else would want such love and peace destroyed then the devil! And he patiently waits and tries to poisons our minds with worldliness. A desire to be recognised for our efforts, seeking rewards. Putting others down while we force our views and thoughts on others. However It is only when we serve with humble hearts and tireless sacrifice that we can truly experience the Lord in our lives. The peace, joy and fruits that can only come from serving Him.
By growing in our relationship and our faith in Jesus, we see the power He bestows upon us to do His Will. We can heal, we can deliver from oppression, we can intercede and we can proclaim the Gospel.
Lord Jesus I long to serve You humbly always! Amen
Saint Mark, Evangelist – Feast
First reading
1 Peter 5:5-14
All wrap yourselves in humility to be servants of each other, because God refuses the proud and will always favour the humble. Bow down, then, before the power of God now, and he will raise you up on the appointed day; unload all your worries on to him, since he is looking after you. Be calm but vigilant, because your enemy the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat. Stand up to him, strong in faith and in the knowledge that your brothers all over the world are suffering the same things. You will have to suffer only for a little while: the God of all grace who called you to eternal glory in Christ will see that all is well again: he will confirm, strengthen and support you. His power lasts for ever and ever. Amen.
I write these few words to you through Silvanus, who is a brother I know I can trust, to encourage you never to let go this true grace of God to which I bear witness.
Your sister in Babylon, who is with you among the chosen, sends you greetings; so does my son, Mark.
Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Gospel
Mark 16:15-20
Jesus showed himself to the Eleven, and said to them: ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.’
And so the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven: there at the right hand of God he took his place, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.
CatholicJules.net 
As We Sleep
©2010 by Peter D. Bové
Darkness fell upon us when time hid the truth
When might we awaken from the snare of this noose?
What might we learn? Where might we be?
When we open our eyes, hat might we see?
For now we lay sleeping awash in this haze
Indifferent to the call for glorious days
All in God’s time I once was told
But what does this mean? What might unfold?
Why am I here? What must I do?
To answer the question and learn what is true?
I ask these few questions, in earnest I keep
My quest to discover why do we sleep?
When plentiful the signs from God up above
If we ponder the mystery and seek only love
Awaken sweet children, for look as we sleep
So much is occurring to know is to weep
That we have forsaken the ultimate prize
Of heaven on earth let us open our eyes
To this prison we keep, we live such as sheep
Deceived, led astray, with our souls will we pay
That we trade them for wealth is our earthly master’s goal
Let go dust disguised as riches, seek His love with all your soul
Then may we fathom that we are of light
Though Adam and Eve did forsake Him from Eden took flight
Now here we are sleeping unknown is the truth
So hard is the path that will let us break loose
From this dimension and realize that we Were made in His image and meant to be free
Now made in His image runs through my mind
In what ways exactly are we in kind?
Were we meant divine graces of telepathy, of flight?
But our brains remain largely in darkness of night
Divine is our nature this may we learn
To realize His plan or will our souls burn
Nary a peep does He hear as we sleep
Awaken sweet children, for the pain will not keep
Beautiful thanks for sharing….
The last line of the first stanza, the word hat is missing the W so as to read what.