Humble endings from humble beginnings

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today presents texts to commemorate the Feast of the Evangelist and Apostle Mark. A sense of the readings taken together is one of wrapping up. The first letter of Peter provides advice and counsel for Peter's disciples at the conclusion of his ministry. The exhortation which stands out is the direction to be humble. The practice of humility is a wise discipline which puts distance between the mission to serve the will of God and the natural human tendency to put ourselves and our desires first. The reference in this letter to "Mark" is likely to the Gospel Evangelist. This Gospel is largely composed of the eye witness accounts of Peter. The surprise is that Peter's humility shows as he is portrayed as the struggling, impetuous and impatient one by Mark. The importance of the example of struggle in the faith journey is more important than a glossy presentation of Peter as perfect leader. Friar Jude Winkler explains that the choice of the ending of the Gospel of Mark as the text today in itself is sending a message because scholars conclude that this well worked out ending to the Gospel was added later by a disciple of Mark from the descriptions in the Gospels of Matthew Luke and John. Our predisposition to assume perfection in the people called to establish the Church of Jesus and in the texts compiled by these people is not wise. The instruments chosen to "proclaim the good news everywhere" (Mark16:14) are imperfect and have a natural claim on humility.