Gospel of Mark Series: Introduction Part 1

WELCOME TO GOSPEL OF MARK SERIES

Welcome to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012, each week, I will write a post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark.  I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B.

Every time we attend Mass, we hear the Gospel read according to either Matthew, Mark, Luke or John.  These writers were divinely inspired to write by the Holy Spirit. These writers received their final formulation as a result of 35-50 years of Church reflection on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.Their writings have similarities and differences, some leave out some events, whilst other focus on other events in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

This is not surprising, as we all see and perceive the same event differently.  Why not test it for yourself with a family event. Get a piece of paper and draw 2 columns. Recall a family event together.  Note the similarities and note the differences in each column.  I am sure you will be surprised to see what each family member recalls and perceives.

The first three Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) are often referred to as 'synoptic' gospels. If you place them side by side, you can see with (syn) your eyes (optics) that there are clear similarities and obvious differences in them. The similarities indicated their common traditions.  The differences show that the meaning of some of Jesus encounters, healing and teachings were treasured differently.  In many places it seems that Matthew and Luke are directly dependent on Mark. Matthew and Luke also include things that are absent from Mark.  Finally, each gospel has some stories with no parallel in the other two gospels.  However, inspired by the Holy Spirit each of them individually, and all of them together, are of inestimable value to us as we learn to understand more deeply and pray the gospels.

The word gospel comes from the greek "eu" meaning good and "angelion" meaning message or news. Culturally, the Roman Empire used the term to announce the good news of a military victory or the succession or a new emperor.  However, Mark used the word not only to change the cultural context, but to introduce his hearers to the Saviour, Messiah and Lord in the new and radical different way in the person of Jesus.

What is the Good News?  When you are asked what is essentially the Good News of the Gospel, it is essentially as follows:

1. God took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ to be the Saviour of mankind.
2. Jesus is the full revelation of God in Jesus' own person, teachings and healings and it is we can encounter the living God.
3. God vindicates mankind through the obedience of His Son through His death.  Jesus shows us that He is Messiah and has the power to save through His suffering and death on a cross at Calvary. The tree of Adam ( sin) is now transformed on the tree of the Cross.
4. Jesus' resurrection points to the promise of our breaking the chains of sin and death, and we are invited to enter fully into a graced-filled life.
5. God provides His people a meeting place through His Church where we are nurtured and nourished by His love in the Sacraments so that one day we will meet our Saviour face to face in our homeland of Heaven.

Next week  in the post Introduction Part 2, we will continue to explore the Gospel of Mark examining the purpose of Mark's writing and its style and structure. 

Do you not want to wait for next week?  Prepare yourself for the journey and get a journal (exercise book/notebook) Would you like to get your overall view of St Mark's Gospel?  During the week, why not read 2 chapters each day, or if you have some extra time, why not read the whole 16 chapters in one sitting.

May the inspired writing of St Mark's Gospel bless you during this year.