Saint Mark, the Evangelist.

(Homily for April 25, 2017).

Today, we celebrate one of the great heroes of our Christian Faith, a man whose Gospel is still being used all over the world today as a reference point for understanding the person and message of Jesus Christ.

Mark was a personal assistant to the first Pope, St. Peter the Apostle and the Gospel he wrote was the content of what he heard Peter preach as they went from place to place in the mission of evangelization.

Peter even refers to Mark as a son as read in today’s first reading. Mark was not an assistant but one in all humility served the mission by applying his talents and gifts. Perhaps, Peter had him in mind when he wrote of the need for us to clothe ourselves with humility.  

Indeed, one shining virtue we should all have as Christians is humility. Without it, we cannot learn from others and we cannot grow. We should never do anything to attract praise or exaltation to ourselves; let us allow God himself to exalt us.

Pride is one weapon the devil tries to use against us, hence we must be on a guard and resist the devil by resisting our self-pride. Quite often, humility translates to having to put up with suffering, but we should never be ashamed to suffer because our reward is waiting in heaven.

It is believed that Mark was among the Seventy that Jesus sent out two by two to go into the surrounding countries in Luke 10: 1-20. And as Luke narrates, the seventy came back rejoicing declaring how the evil spirits obeyed their bidding.

This is the same reality that Mark tries to convey in the concluding part of his Gospel passage from which we read today. “And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by signs that attended it.” Mark 16:20.

As we can see, miracles are signs that accompany and confirm the message not the other way round. Jesus asked us to go and preach everywhere. He didn’t say go and work miracles everywhere. Today’s Christianity has turned things around: No one says, “Come and hear the word of God,” they say, “come and receive your miracle.”

Any place where miracles are happening yet the word of God is not preached or given little attention and time, we must be on guard for native doctors, magicians and occultists have taken over the miracle business.

All we are called to do is to preach, leave miracles for Jesus. Mark says: “The Lord worked with them confirming the message by signs…” No one can lay claim to any miracle but Jesus is the only one who works miracles.

According to scripture scholars, Mark was the first person to have written a Gospel as early as 64 A.D. while Matthew and Luke copied from him thereby accounting from the deep similarities in the three Gospels.

Saint Mark’s journey with Saint Peter and Saint Barnabas is recorded in Acts as they travelled through Cyprus and Rome carrying the Word. Church writings accredit Saint Mark as founding the Church in Alexandria and consequently, serving as bishop there.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, may I also spread your word like Mark the Evangelist. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Feast of St. Mark. Bible Study: 1 Peter 5:5-14 and Mark 16:15-20).

Fr. Abu.