St Peter’s secretary in Rome. Author of the second Gospel which emphasizes the Saviour’s miraculous powers. (Fr James Socias, et al [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1511)
Despite his Roman name, Mark was Jewish by birth. He was also known by his Hebrew name John. Not one of the twelve Apostles, he probably knew Jesus personally. Many ecclesiastical writers see in the episode of the young man, who let go the sheet and fled at Jesus’ arrest in Gethsemane, a reference to Mark in his Gospel. Mark alone mentions it.
This tallies with the fact that he was the son of a woman named Mary, who seems to have been a wealthy widow in whose house the first Jerusalem Christians used to meet. According to ancient tradition this house was in fact the Cenacle, where Our Lord celebrated the Last Supper and instituted the Blessed Eucharist. (cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:189-93)
The apostolic mandate
From his early youth Mark was among the first Christians of Jerusalem who had lived with Our Lady and the Apostles, all of whom he knew well. His mother was one of the first women to provide for Jesus and the Twelve. He is a cousin of Barnabas, one of the chief figures of those first days; and who initiated him in the task of spreading the Gospel.
Mark went with Paul and Barnabas on their apostolic journey (cf Acts 13:5-13), but on arriving in Cyprus he probably felt he was unable to carry on any further, for at that point he left them and went back to Jerusalem (cf Acts 13:13). Paul seems to have been disgusted at Mark’s inconstancy. Many years later in Rome, Paul finds him “a comfort” and faithful companion. (cf 1 Pet 5:13)
About ten years later we find him in Rome, helping Peter who refers to him as “my son, Mark” (cf Phil 24), thereby testifying to a long-standing close relationship. Being interpreter for the Prince of Apostles provided him with a privileged vantage-point, reflected in the Gospel he wrote later.
St Jerome writes that “Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, wrote down his Gospel at the request of the brethren living in Rome, according to what he had heard Peter preach. And Peter, having heard it, approved it with his authority to be read in the Church.” (“De script eccl”) This was no doubt Mark’s principal mission in life: to faithfully transmit Peter’s teaching.
The Church proposes St Mark to us today as a model. It can be a great source of hope and consolation to contemplate the life of this holy Evangelist, because despite weaknesses we can, like him, trust in divine grace and in the assistance of our Mother the Church. Our imperfections should not cause us to turn away from God or to abandon our apostolic mission.
At times we may have failed to respond properly to God’s grace. In these and other circumstances, if they occur, we should not be discouraged. Failures and acts of cowardice can serve a purpose and that is why we turn to Our Lord asking his pardon and help. But precisely because he trusts us and that we can count on receiving grace anew, we ought to begin again immediately and resolve to be more faithful.
With Our Lord’s help we learn to draw good from our weaknesses, especially when the enemy, who never rests, tries to discourage us and get us to give up. Jesus wants us to be his despite any history of weakness on our part.
“Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature” (Mk 16:15) is the apostolic mandate. Moved by the Holy Spirit, St Mark testifies that this command was fulfilled: the Apostles “went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by signs that attended it” (Mk 16:20).
Ref: cf F Fernandez, Op cit
‘Evangelical Leaven’
The Gospel St Mark wrote brings out the contrast between Christ who pardons (Mk 2:10), overcomes demons (Mk 1:24-7), heals the sick (Mk 1:31), those men who jeer at him (Mk 5:40) and desire his ruin (Mk 3:36).
In this ‘scandalous’ contrast Mark sees the guiding line of God’s activity; he surprises people and induces them to ask about Christ’s identity. Who is he? (Mk 4:41) Through the very experience of their humiliation, he prepared them for the act of faith in his saving mission. “Truly this man was God’s Son” (Mk 15:39) is the centurion’s confession at the foot of the Cross.
How can we fail to see all this as a clear indication for whoever wishes to follow Christ’s footsteps and become his witness in the contemporary world? Meekness in the face of opposition and clashes, dominion over the passions and forces of evil, and commitment to alleviating every form of suffering: the concrete modes whereby the Christian can provoke a query about Christ in people of today as well, for hearts to be disposed to accepting this message.
Thus, enable him to work effectively for the coming of God’s kingdom and construction of the earthly City, in accord with the Christian vision of the world and of history, which is irreconciliable with materialistic ideologies.
Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, p169
The Christian Apostolate
St John has recorded a wonderful phrase by our Lady. At Cana she told the waiters: “Do whatever he tells you.” (Jn 2:5) It’s all about getting people to face Jesus and ask him: “Lord what do you want me to do?” (Acts 9:6)
The christian apostolate -- about an ordinary Christian living as just one more man or woman among equals -- is a great work of teaching. Through real, personal, loyal friendship, you create in others a hunger for God and you help them to discover new horizons: naturally, simply. With the example of your faith lived to the full, with a loving word which is full of the force of divine truth.
Ref: cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 149
Our Lady
“Mary, teacher of prayer. See how she asks her Son at Cana. And how she insists, confidently, perseveringly ... And how she succeeds.
“Learn.”
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 502
Dedication of the Lower Holy Chapel of Paris, in honor of Our Lady, by Philip, Archbishop of Bourges, in the year 1248. — Du Breuil, Theatre des Antiquites. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Dedication: Lower Holy Chapel in honor of Mary. Paris. 1248. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Good Counsel, Genazzano, Italy. 1467. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment