Why Mark 5:19? In fact, what IS Mark 5:19?

When it was clear to us that the Lord wanted me to leave diocesan ministry and step into direct parish support for evangelization, it was a joy to say yes. But let me tell you: naming things has never been my strength. 

Example #1: When I was 9 years old, my brothers and I found a kitten abandoned in our family’s motorboat. We were determined to save her life and began to debate pet cat names (to our parents’ chagrin, they didn’t want a pet…but here is this mewing runt kitten covered in oil, crying out for help….). I was determined the cat should be named Smiley. It was the 1970s and the big yellow smiley face was “in.” My younger brothers were merciless in their common sense:

“But cats don’t smile.”

“She isn’t even yellow.”

“That name is just stupid.” (They were 6 and 7, for the record.)

My mother ended the arguing by saying the kitten probably wasn’t going to make it, but if she did, her name would be Mittens for her white paws.

I said, “Well, to me, she will always be Mittens Smiley.”*

So coming up with a name for this parish-based evangelization apostolate was hard. Plus, as Jerry and I found out, all the good names were taken. You put together any combination of Catholic, Mission, Evangelization, Parish, Discipleship–I promise you, it’s been taken. Eventually, we gave up and both began to work toward the meat of the apostolate, figuring the name will come in due time.

Well, the name came in the middle of the night. Jerry was half-asleep at 4am and distinctly heard the Lord say to him what he thought was “Read Mark 5:15.” He said, Okay, God, when it’s morning. The Lord said, NO, now. So Jerry pulled up his phone and began reading the Gospel of Mark at chapter 5, verse 15, and got to Mark 5:19. He heard again “This is the name of the new apostolate.” Jerry read it, and responded, “Oh, this is good!” and the Lord said, “…and…this is going to mean something to Susan.” 

Thankfully, the Lord (and Jerry) let me sleep until 7am, but then Jerry immediately said “You need to read Mark 5:19. NOW.”

Well, good morning to you too, dear. But I got a Bible and read:

Jesus said to him, “Go home to your own people and tell them what the Lord in mercy has done for you.”

And I said, oh wow. This is go and tell community-based evangelization.

Jerry said, “Right? God actually told me in the middle of the night this was the name of the apostolate. Because Susan, I know you love the Great Commission, but most people are intimidated by go and make disciples of all nations. Their reaction is I have no idea how to do that. But this passage: This man is healed and Jesus tells him to go home and tell people about God has done for him. That is something everyone can do!”

I responded, “You know, the healing of the Gerasene demoniac is one of my favorite passages in the Gospel. It’s actually all of salvation history told through a healing.”

Jerry said, “See? God told me this would mean something to you!”

I’m flipping quickly through Mark 1-4, and realizing–”Wait, wait, wait. This is the first commission! This is the first time that Jesus tells someone to go and share the good news! The apostolate is helping parishes live out the Lord’s first evangelical commission!”

We’re both quiet. I’m a little shocked that God is speaking directly to my husband to tell me the name of this apostolate, and moved. But…how is this a name? The verse is too long for a name. Jerry suggested Mark 5:19. I shook my head…they’ll confuse it with John 3:16, you know. (Admittedly not the worst thing, but it’s a little confusing.) But we couldn’t think of any other way to name it, so….we added “Project” to the verse and called it done. 

We are The Mark 5:19 Project and focus on strengthening parish ministries by recognizing your local mission field outside your door, and it is as clear as go and tell.

Now, go home to your own people and tell them what the Lord has done for you!

* Mittens Smiley, the cat that doesn’t smile, lived to be 17 years old.