Proclaim the Good News
We experience a deep happiness on receiving good news! St. Mark begins his Gospel with, ‘The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God’ (Mark 1:1). This signifies that the arrival and ministry of Jesus is good news. He fulfills God's promises and brings salvation to humanity. And this week’s Gospel Mark 16: 15 Jesus urges us to ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation’. He wants us to be heralders of this good news.
Central to this good news is Jesus' message in Mark - the announcement of the Kingdom of God. Jesus begins his public ministry by proclaiming, ‘The time has come... The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’ (Mark 1:15). This indicates that God's rule and reign are being established in a new way through Jesus' presence and work.
The ‘Good News’ encompasses the offer of salvation and redemption from sin. This means that no matter our past mistakes or transgressions, we can be cleansed and made right with God. This forgiveness is a gift of grace, freely given to all who believe and repent.
Sin creates a separation between us and God. Redemption through Jesus bridges this gap, restoring our relationship with our Creator. This restored relationship means we can approach God with confidence, knowing we are loved and accepted.
Receiving the ‘Good News’ leads to a transformed life. It calls us to turn away from sinful behaviors and to live in a way that honors God. This transformation involves growing in love, compassion, humility, and other virtues that reflect the character of Christ.
To proclaim the Good News involves clearly communicating the core message of the Gospel: that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again, offering salvation to all who believe in Him. It starts by living a life that reflects the love, grace, and truth of Jesus. Making our lives a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel.
We also proclaim the good news through speaking, writing, teaching, and other forms of communication. I write and disseminate this daily newsletter to proclaim the good news. I invite you to collaborate with me by sharing the post and the message with others.
To be proclaimers of this good news - we must know and be formed in Reading the Bible. This is why I have created the Bible Reading and Study Guide Membership Program. I urge you to join the program by clicking on the link below and following the steps.
Bible Reading and Study Guide Membership Program Link
Please also view the following video clip on the program.