Today we read the first half of the canonical ending of St Mark's Gospel [16:9-20]. As far as we can see, Mark ended his Gospel with the provocative challenge: "They said nothing to anyone; they were afraid, you see". [Mk 16:8] Mark seems to have wanted to challenge his readers with the implied questions: What about you?" Are you afraid? "Will you say nothing to anyone?" "Will you refuse to proclaim the Good News that Jesus is risen?"

At a later date someone added the passage 16:9-20 as a summary of the appearances of the risen Jesus and the early missionary experience of the Church. This passage is "canonical"; that is, The Church accepts it as authentic Scripture.

Today's passage presents the first part of this canonical ending, about the appearances of the risen Christ, so that it ends with the missionary mandate: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation". The Church reminds us that we are not merely reading about something in the past. We are reading Scripture, which gives orientation, impulse and verve to our Christian lives in a world where so many do not know God and have no hope. How shall we respond?