Feast of Saint Mark, Evangelist
“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”
Jesus addressed these words, or even a command, to the Apostles and he constantly addresses these words to each of us. With these words, also of St. Mark ends his Gospel.
Today we liturgically remember and honor this Evangelist who first created a completely new literary style, called the Gospel. The Gospel is a literary work that presents the life story, the story of Jesus of Nazareth, and his teachings.
St. Marek was related to Barnabas. He was accompanied St. Paul on his first journey and followed him to Rome. Then he became a disciple of the apostle Peter and presented his teaching in his Gospel. He is the founder of the Church in Alexandria.
... The greatest merit of St. Mark is that he left us a brief written account of the life and teachings of the Lord Jesus. His Gospel is a faithful echo of St. Peter. It was written by St. Mark before the year 62, in which the Gospel of St. Luke. So, it could have been written in the 50-60s. He begins his Gospel with the Baptism of Jesus and the vocation of St. Peter as an Apostle. He lists as a characteristic detail: the stay of the Lord Jesus in the house of St. Peter and the healing of his mother-in-law (Mk 1: 29-31).
Saint Mark knew Aramaic and Greek perfectly well. He wrote his Gospel not for Jews, as he often translated Aramaic words into Greek (Mk 5: 4; 14:36; 15:22). He also explains Jewish customs (Mk 7: 1-23; 14, 12). He wrote his Gospel probably in Rome because he resembles the famous in Rome Christian community: Alexander and Rufus (Mk 15:21) as indirect witnesses of the Passion of the Lord.
St. Mark begins his memories with the words: "The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Jesus is the most important here. Jesus - true Man and true God. It is the Gospel as Good and Joyful News that is the main message here. Christ calls us to bear witness to this News, to proclaim it and, above all, to live it. To live the Gospel is to live Christ Himself.
A few years ago, in Serbia died the Orthodox Patriarch Paul. He was a very respected and loved man, not only by the Orthodox but also by Catholics. When he was elected Patriarch of the Serbian Church, he was asked to present a program, a plan for his pastoral activity. And then Patriarch Paul, humbly, briefly and decisively, replied: "My program is the Gospel - the Good News about God who is among us and about the Kingdom of God that is in us." My program is the Gospel ...
Often in our life, in our behavior, at work, in ordinary everyday life, in social, economic and political activities; in the spirituality, and even in dreams, we arrange various programs, different plans for life. Well, that is the way it should be. But do we also give Christ a place in all of this? Are we building our "strategic plans" based on the Good News, based on the Word of God? Whether our program in the family, marriage, religious life, or parish is the Gospel - the Good News, is Jesus who is the Good News?
May today's Feast of Mark the Evangelist be another opportunity for us to renew our faith in Jesus, the Son of God. Let the Gospel be our life program, always alive and actual.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george