The Feast of Saint Mark, evangelist
(I Peter 5:5b-14; Mark 16:15-20)
The Gospel according to Mark is by far the shortest of the four canonical gospels. Although in effect this means that it lacks the fascinating narrative of Jesus’ birth as well as the most famous of Jesus’ parables, being short has its advantages. One such benefit that has been exploited in recent times is that it is the easiest gospel to memorize. Not very long ago a single actor performed the whole gospel on Broadway!
Mark is also notable for its portrayal of the humanity of Jesus by recounting his different emotions. In Mark Jesus is moved with pity for the leper (1:41), with anger at the Pharisees for not caring enough for the man with the withered hand (3:5), and with love the rich man who comes to ask him what must be done to gain eternal life (10:21). Mark shows Jesus as everyone’s best friend: a man that can be counted on both for support when one is in need and for criticism when one puts on airs.
Most of us will never memorize large swatches of the Gospel of Mark, but there is a line in the gospel which would be good to remember. It is sometimes called the “Jesus Prayer.” When the blind beggar turns to the Lord saying, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me” (10:47), he speaks for all of us who have difficulty seeing with the eyes of faith. At such times we also are wise to pray, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.”
Showing posts with label Gospel according to Mark. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gospel according to Mark. Show all posts
Homilette for Friday, April 25, 2008
Feast of St. Mark, evangelist
(Mark 16:15-20)
The Gospel according to Mark represents a literary landmark. It is not only the first of the four canonical gospels, but the first gospel of any kind. Never before had the world witnessed a pronouncement of “good news” (what “gospel” literally means) based on one man’s work, death, and glorious aftermath. We might say that the originality and sheer wonder of Jesus’ story required a new form of literature. As Jesus says in the same gospel, “new wine...new wineskins.”
We may enjoy reading Mark’s Gospel because it exhibits an earthiness about Jesus that is true of his Palestinian roots. Only in Mark of the four gospels is Jesus called a carpenter. Only Mark mentions Jesus living among wild beasts in the desert during his long pre-ministry retreat. Only in this gospel does Jesus use both fingers and spittle at the same time to cure the deaf mute. And only Mark quotes Jesus healing in Aramaic, his native tongue, when he tells the dead girl to arise, “Talita koum.” Jesus is a man of his times in Mark but also one that transcends those times because of his divine mission.
For almost the entire gospel Mark treats the disciples as dim-witted and cowardly. After Jesus feeds the five thousand and walks on water, Mark says that the disciples still do not understand. Likewise, they abandon Jesus like thieves in the night when he is arrested in Gethsemane. The disciples must await the grace of the resurrection in order to understand who Jesus is and to carry out his mission. In today’s gospel passage we see them going forth charged by that grace which accompanies Jesus’ commands. And that is where we are today – renewed and mandated to show God’s love to the world.
(Mark 16:15-20)
The Gospel according to Mark represents a literary landmark. It is not only the first of the four canonical gospels, but the first gospel of any kind. Never before had the world witnessed a pronouncement of “good news” (what “gospel” literally means) based on one man’s work, death, and glorious aftermath. We might say that the originality and sheer wonder of Jesus’ story required a new form of literature. As Jesus says in the same gospel, “new wine...new wineskins.”
We may enjoy reading Mark’s Gospel because it exhibits an earthiness about Jesus that is true of his Palestinian roots. Only in Mark of the four gospels is Jesus called a carpenter. Only Mark mentions Jesus living among wild beasts in the desert during his long pre-ministry retreat. Only in this gospel does Jesus use both fingers and spittle at the same time to cure the deaf mute. And only Mark quotes Jesus healing in Aramaic, his native tongue, when he tells the dead girl to arise, “Talita koum.” Jesus is a man of his times in Mark but also one that transcends those times because of his divine mission.
For almost the entire gospel Mark treats the disciples as dim-witted and cowardly. After Jesus feeds the five thousand and walks on water, Mark says that the disciples still do not understand. Likewise, they abandon Jesus like thieves in the night when he is arrested in Gethsemane. The disciples must await the grace of the resurrection in order to understand who Jesus is and to carry out his mission. In today’s gospel passage we see them going forth charged by that grace which accompanies Jesus’ commands. And that is where we are today – renewed and mandated to show God’s love to the world.
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