RBWords

     Today is the feast of St. Mark, the evangelist.  Fittingly, the gospel scripture is taken from the gospel that bears his name!  Also, fittingly, as I write this, I am in the mission diocese of Juneau, Alaska, that covers the southeast "panhandle" of the state of Alaska.  The territory is as large as the state of Florida.  It is almost all on islands so all transportation is by water or air!  There are 10 priests to cover this enormous territory and 12 parishes.  I am preaching a parish mission in two of them - Petersburg and Wrangell.  The parishes were originally established by Jesuit missionaries but bear Dominican names: St. Catherine of Siena and St. Rose of Lima!   The pastor has to take a small plane or water taxi or ferry between his two parishes every week!  The words, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature!" come alive for me today.  Petersburg, Alaska, seems a whole world away from Houston, Texas!

     I am linked by baptism to a world of faith.  It is baptism that I emphasize in my parish missions.  Petersburg, AK, is a fishing town of 3,000 folks.  All the baptized persons are actually called by that sacrament to be "missionaries."  The physical circumstances here can create a sense of isolation amidst incredible natural beauty.  But faith is a living reality and can be shared everywhere.  St. Mark's gospel is a preaching that appears anywhere there is a bible!  We can proclaim what he says about Jesus anywhere WE are!  AMEN