Feast of Saint Mark, evangelist
(I Peter 5:5b-14; Mark 16:15-20)
If any of the gospels is underappreciated, it is that of
Mark. Before the renewal of Vatican II,
the gospel hardly appeared at all in the lectionary. Now the Church reads selections from the
Gospel of John in Cycle B when Mark is supposedly always read. This underappreciation, however, should not
be interpreted as saying Mark’s gospel has little to offer.
The gospel’s directness and lack of sophistication has great
appeal. In it Jesus appears more human
with a wide range of emotions. Mark
challenges readers, perhaps more than the other three canonical gospels, to
make sacrifices for the Lord. It
emphasizes discipleship but at the same time offers consolation when disciples
are unable to follow. Jesus’ disciples are
continually portrayed as lacking understanding and exhibiting sinful tendencies
like the desire for glory.
Like a fine short story can satisfy more than a long novel,
we might appreciate Mark for its brevity. It can be read without much strain in one
sitting. Doing so provides all the
drama, wonder, and hope of Jesus’ mission and destiny.
