The Masterpiece of St. Mark

Tuesday Reflection by Sr. Rosemary Finnegan, O.P.
Readings from: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042523.cfm

Today we celebrate a man who wrote a masterpiece which we know as The Gospel according to St. Mark.  It is the first written account of Jesus life written about the year 70 A.D.  William Barclay, a famous scripture scholar, said ‘it was the most important book in the world’.  Matthew and Luke used Mark’s account of Jesus’ life and death as the source of their gospels.

Mark’s work is the shortest of the Gospels, only 16 chapters, and races almost breathlessly through Jesus’ life by connecting series of stories.  Despite the urgency of his style, his account is the richest and most vivid in eyewitness detail.  When he wrote of Jesus blessing the children, for instance, Mark alone tells us that Jesus first took them in his arms. (Mark 10:13-16).

Mark wrote his account for the early Christians who were being persecuted to remind them of this Jesus, this Son of God, in whom they believed.  Style wise, he doesn’t put his stories in chronological order.  He structures his good news in terms of Jesus’ unfolding ministry:  his preparation, proclamation, and completion.  Mark’s gospel is like a mountain. As we go up one side, we hear about the ministry of Jesus: the miracles, the healings, the feeding of thousands, the calling of the disciples. The top of the mountain is Peter’s declaration in chapter 8:29, “You are the Christ,” which is the first time we are told exactly who Jesus is. And then, in the last 8 chapters, we come down the other side of the mountain toward the cross where Jesus is revealed as the Son of God.

He also does a masterful job of portraying the apostle’s growing awareness of who Jesus is:  first as their Rabbi, then as a man of power, as a healer of hearts, their Messiah and teacher, and in the final week of Jesus’ life, as the Son of God.

Regarding Mark’s identity, we only have scraps of information.  His full name is John Mark, his mother’s home was used as a meeting place, and he was close to Peter.  As a young man, then, he was immersed in the life of the newly formed church.  Mark was also close to St. Paul whom he accompanied on the first missionary journey. Tradition says Mark eventually founded the church at Alexandria, Egypt.

Today we thank St. Mark for listening to the Holy Spirit and for giving us this tremendous gift of the written life of Jesus Christ.  Let his work not be done in vain.  May we honor him today by reading at least one chapter from the Gospel according to Mark.