Most years, April 25th is the celebration of the
feast of St. Mark. This is a rare
instance in which Mark’s day is replaced by the Octave of Easter, though I
don’t think he minds. While we
will not be celebrating St. Mark’s feast today I would still like to focus on
his Gospel account.
Mark’s
story has been called a passion narrative with an introduction. It is the shortest of the four Gospels
and its tone suggests, “Let’s get to the point!” The words and phrases he uses encourage the focus on the
main event—Jesus’ crucifixion.
For
instance, the word for immediately is
used all the time (and more often than Matthew, Luke and John combined). “Immediately Jesus…after the healing,
immediately they…he immediately…”
This suggests to the reader a hurried pace as Mark focuses on the climax
of his Gospel.
Mark
also employs on the road/way several
times, again more frequently than the other Gospels. In so doing he uses a literary device to show how Jesus is
always on the way to his Father’s will on Calvary.
Finally,
there is a struggle throughout his Gospel between Jesus’ divinity and the
crowds’ desire to make him a king.
Jesus frequently orders that no one tell about a work he did to avoid
becoming an earthly king. Scholars
have labeled this the Marcan secret. This, too, comes to a head when the
Roman centurion declared, “Truly, this man was the son of God!” after Jesus’
death.
Mark’s account is well worth the read
and it could be completed in one sitting.
Its tone, vocabulary and structure all point to Jesus’ crucifixion and
what we celebrate in the Easter Octave is Jesus’ triumph over sin and death
which led him to the cross.
"This, too, comes to a head when the Roman centurion declared, “Truly, this man was the son of God!” after Jesus’ death." Reading this text from the Gospel of St. Mark reminds me often it seems we humans do not realize the presence of God in our lives. Often it seems, it takes a tragedy or reaching a spot when one finally understands the truth that he or she is not in control of what happens in life and the more one tries to control events to one's own ends, the more struggle comes into one's life. Give yourself time every day to realize who and what God really is! If your heart is true and you actually can listen to God and then let Him lead you to right choices, you will truly begin to realize the reality of God in your life. This is a personal testimony, not an instruction to anyone else. But, just think about it.
ReplyDeleteAmen! On the other hand, those who live in relationship with God every day are better equipped to handle tragedy or other difficult situations in their lives. Make God your best friend!
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