The Gospel of Mark differs from other Gospels in that it does not mention many appearances of the Risen Lord. However, in the last chapter, Mark notes the apparition to Mary Magdalene and two unnamed disciples, followed by an appearance to the eleven Apostles. As mentioned in verses 14-18, Christ rebukes his apostles for their lack of faith and hardness of heart, as they did not initially believe those who had seen him after his resurrection. He then commissions them to spread the gospel to the whole world, stating that those who believe and are baptized will be saved while those who do not believe will be condemned. Furthermore, those who believe will have the ability to cast out demons, speak in tongues, handle serpents without harm, drink deadly substances without harm, and heal the sick.

To understand this dialogue, it is crucial to discuss the nature of Christ's rebuke towards the Apostles, the missionary commission, and the meaning behind the signs and wonders that will accompany believers.

At the beginning of the dialogue, Christ rebukes the Apostles for their unbelief and hardness of heart. This rebuke was not to shame or belittle them but to purify their faith and dispel their fear of death. The Apostles were in hiding together, fearing for their lives, but Christ appeared to them to prove that he had indeed risen. This appearance was necessary for all of them to bear witness and spread the message of the resurrection.

In commissioning them to spread the gospel, Christ gave them the power to perform signs and wonders that would accompany believers. However, it is crucial to note that this power is granted to those who truly believe and have faith in Christ. The signs and wonders are not meant to be used for personal gain or fame but rather as a testament to the power of God and the message of the gospel.

In conclusion, Mark's gospel may not have many details on the apparitions of the Risen Lord, but it provides valuable insights into the nature of faith and the power of the gospel message. Christ's commission to believers is not just to spread the Word but to live it out in their lives, demonstrating faith through the signs and wonders that follow.

In addition, for our salvation, Jesus Christ had to endure death. In another gospel passage from Mark, Jesus said, "You will all fall away, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee'" (Mk 14:27). Jesus, as the shepherd, had to be struck down in order for the Apostles and everyone else to believe in him. If you feel overwhelmed by doubt like the Apostles did, take courage, for the Lord is with us and can dispel our fear of death.

The fear that the Apostles experienced prevented them from spreading the Good News. This is why Jesus had to appear to them and rebuke their disbelief and hard-heartedness (Mk 16:14). He was stern with them because they didn't believe that he had already appeared to Mary Magdalene, the other women, and two disciples in the countryside (cf. Mk 16:1-13). St. Augustine explains that Jesus wanted to rebuke them for not believing those who had already seen him risen, as they would be preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles, who had not seen him (6). Therefore, Jesus had to correct the Apostles out of love and implant his image in their hearts, so that they could proclaim that he had overcome death. St. Gregory of Nazianzus reinforces this idea by saying that Jesus rebuked them so that his words would leave a deeper impression on their hearts (7).

Through his strong words, Jesus inspired the Apostles to preach the Kerygma and proclaim that death had been defeated. He commanded them to go into the world and spread the Gospel to everyone.

embodying spiritual virtues. Just as the Apostles were able to conquer the physical danger of serpents, so too can we overcome the spiritual dangers by embodying virtues such as humility, patience, and love. These virtues are the antidotes to the spiritual venom that threatens to harm our souls and lead us astray from the path of righteousness. By living in accordance with these virtues, we are able to perform even greater signs and wonders in the name of Christ, for it is through our actions that we manifest His redemptive power in the world. Therefore, let us heed Christ's call to Go and Announce! the good news to all nations, and let our lives be living proclamations of His grace and love for all people. Through our example, may others come to believe in the power and authority of Christ, and may they too be transformed by His saving grace.

Christ specially selected and summoned the Apostles to manifest God the Father's salvific plan in the world by preaching the Good News. In order to spread this call all over the globe, Christ commissioned the chosen Apostles to announce the gospel and make disciples of all nations. Strengthened by this task, the Apostles proactively conveyed the message, and the Lord worked with them, and affirmed the message with miraculous signs. Thus, the preaching of the good news had a significant impact on humanity. This text draws its references from various sources, including the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Commentary on Sacred Scripture, and several other works of religious significance.

My assignment is to rephrase the entire text utilizing better vocabulary and phrasing to make it distinctive as well as enhancing natural language. All of the outputs must be in the English language. The initial text that needs to be rewritten is as follows:

[17] Check Greg.

[18] Check Acts 3:6.

[19] Refer to Acts 28-4-6.

[20] Check Greg.

[21] Check Greg.

[22] Greg.

[23] Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd edition, 2.

My revised version is:

[17] Confirm with Greg.

[18] Refer to Acts 3:6.

[19] Observe Acts 28:4-6.

[20] Consult Greg.

[21] Verify with Greg.

[22] As stated by Greg.

[23] Quoted from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd edition, section 2.