Reflection on Today’s Readings, the Feast of St. Mark, Monday 25th April, 2022
Texts: 1 Peter 5:5b-14; Psalm 89:2-3.6-7.16-17; Mark 16:15-20
Today is the feast of Mark; he is also known as John Mark. He was not one of the apostles. In the Acts of the Apostles his mother is identified to be Mary (12:12). He was familiar with Jesus and close to the early Christian community. It was believed that his mother’s house was probably where Jesus ate the last supper with His disciples and also where the Holy Spirit came down on the apostles and others. Mark followed Paul and Barnabas in their first missionary journey and later followed Peter (Acts 13:5, 13; 1Tim. 4:11; 1Pet. 5:13 ). All these give credit to his gospel, the second gospel in the Bible. Tradition has it that he put down the gospel of Peter. His familiarity with Jesus Christ, the apostles and the early Christian community give us the confidence that we make no mistakes in using his gospel as a guide as we journey on in the path of salvation. Salvation is sure for us when we believe in his gospel, making it our own, and living according to it. We make no mistakes when we search his gospel as we seek to know Jesus Christ better and better; we will not lose the identity of Jesus Christ if we read his gospel. We will also know what Jesus Christ demands from us if we read his gospel. Let us, therefore, read his gospel to know more about Jesus Christ and what He has taught to do. In today’s first reading, St. Peter teaches us thus: “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility towards one another, for ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you. Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.”
St. Mark believed that the gospel is to be preached to the whole world. In today’s gospel reading, he quotes Jesus, saying, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Tradition has it that he went to Egypt to preach the gospel and he established the Church in Alexandria of Egypt. The gospel he wrote has become the means of transmitting the message of Jesus Christ from generation to generation. St. Mark challenges us, today, to do something to spread the message of Christ. He challenges us to do something for God. What are we leaving behind for the generation to come. Some of us are leaving behind immodest dressing, moral decadence, indiscipline, impiety etc. Let us leave behind good faith, good name, example of courage, moral rectitude, truthfulness, love, etc.
St. Mark preached Jesus Christ who is the Saviour and Son of God. He started his gospel thus: “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (1:1). He invites us to believe in Jesus as the Son of God and Saviour of humanity. In our case, what do we teach people about God? Perhaps, the God of wealth and prosperity, God of pleasure and enjoyment, God of miracles, etc. St. Peter tells us in today’s first reading thus: “Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you. To
him be the dominion for ever and ever.”
O God, who raised up Saint Mark, your Evangelist, and endowed him with the grace to preach the Gospel, grant, we pray, that we may so profit from his teaching, as to follow faithfully in the foot- steps of Christ.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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