Belief and baptism

Gospel MK 16:15-18

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:
“Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

In today's reading Jesus commissions the Apostles with the monumental task of preaching the Gospel "to every creature."  He talks about the two requirements of salvation: belief (faith) and baptism.  The former is an inner "shift" and the latter is a public coming out party.  He describes believers as having super powers: driving out demons, speaking new languages, taming deadly serpents, being impervious to drinking deadly potions, healing the sick by the laying on of hands.  It all sounds like the stuff of super heroes.  And it all starts with faith.  Gandhi once said, "It is my own firm belief that the strength of the soul grows in proportion as you subdue the flesh."  Perhaps this is what Jesus is referring to in this reading.  Once I go beyond the fear of the flesh, the fear of physical harm, the fear of death, my soul is strengthened and am free to become all God wants me to be.