As we journey through the sacred season of Advent, the Church invites us to meditate on the themes of faith and proclamation. The epistle from Romans 10:10-18 and the Gospel from Mark 16:15-18, often considered together in the liturgical readings of Feria III in the first week of Advent, call us to reflect on the power of faith confessed with the heart and proclaimed with the lips, a central Advent theme as we prepare for the coming of Christ.
Faith that Saves, Proclamation that Heals
In Romans 10:10, St. Paul affirms: “For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth, one confesses and is saved.” This passage captures the dual movement of faith—an interior assent and an outward expression. Belief in Christ is not a private matter; it must flow outward into a bold confession that proclaims Him as Lord.
St. John Chrysostom, in his homilies on Romans, elaborates on this synergy between heart and lips. He writes, “The tongue is no less an instrument of salvation than the heart, for confession is made unto salvation, not because God needs words, but because we need to utter them to seal our commitment.” This proclamation strengthens faith within us and stirs others to believe.
This truth is echoed in the Gospel of Mark 16:15-18, where Christ commands His apostles: “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” The universality of this mission speaks to the urgency of the Advent season—a time to prepare not only our own hearts but also the world for the coming of Christ.
Hearing the Word: The Role of Evangelization
St. Paul continues in Romans, asking, “How are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Rom 10:14). This underscores the necessity of evangelization. The Church Fathers saw this as not merely the duty of apostles but the shared mission of all the faithful.
St. Augustine, reflecting on these verses, states, “Preaching is the sowing of seeds. God works the growth, but He wills to use the laborers. To proclaim is to participate in His grace.” Advent reminds us that the faithful are called to be heralds of hope, echoing the angelic announcement of the Savior’s birth.
Signs that Accompany Believers
Mark’s Gospel speaks of signs accompanying those who believe: “They will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents… they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:17-18). These signs demonstrate the transformative power of Christ’s Gospel. While miracles testify to God’s presence, the Church Fathers remind us that the greatest miracle is the conversion of hearts.
St. Gregory the Great writes, “The signs were given for the infant Church, that the world might believe. But now that faith has grown, the true miracle is that the hearts of men, once hardened, turn to God through His grace.” In Advent, as we wait for the miraculous Incarnation, we are reminded that God’s most profound work is in the transformation of the soul.
Advent Application: Living the Word
In the spirit of Advent, let us ask ourselves:
- Are we proclaiming the Gospel with both our words and our lives? Advent calls us to be witnesses to the hope of Christ’s coming, not just in preaching but in works of charity and mercy.
- Are we attentive to hearing the Word of God? As St. Ambrose teaches, “To hear is to begin to believe; to believe is to respond with love.” This Advent, let us incline our ears to the Word of God, proclaimed in Scripture and the liturgy.
- Are we instruments of healing and hope? Whether through prayer, acts of kindness, or sharing our faith, we participate in the healing mission of Christ when we reach out to the wounded and lost.
Conclusion
Romans 10:10-18 and Mark 16:15-18 remind us that faith is not static but dynamic—born in the heart, confessed with the lips, and lived in action. In this Advent season, let us heed the call to evangelize with courage and love, echoing the words of the psalmist: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world” (Rom 10:18, quoting Ps 19:4). As the Church Fathers encourage us, let our faith not only prepare us to meet Christ but also inspire others to recognize Him as the Savior of the world.
Come, Lord Jesus, and make us your heralds!