Going into the world

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today commemorate the Feast of the Evangelist, Saint Mark.

Getting the word out

The First Letter of Peter refers to Mark in a discourse that urges the persecuted followers of Jesus to be sober and vigilant.

* [5:13] The chosen one: feminine, referring to the Christian community (ekklēsia) at Babylon, the code name for Rome in Rev 14:8; 17:5; 18:2. Mark, my son: traditionally a prominent disciple of Peter and co-worker at the church in Rome, perhaps the John Mark referred to in Acts 12:12, 25; 13:5, 13; and in Acts 15:37–39, a companion of Barnabas. Perhaps this is the same Mark mentioned as Barnabas’s cousin in Col 4:10, a co-worker with Paul in Phlm 24 (see also 2 Tm 4:11).

In the Gospel of Mark, the Longer Ending completes the work with the Commissioning of the Eleven that is build upon the work of the other Evangelists.

[16:9–20] This passage, termed the Longer Ending to the Marcan gospel by comparison with a much briefer conclusion found in some less important manuscripts, has traditionally been accepted as a canonical part of the gospel and was defined as such by the Council of Trent. Early citations of it by the Fathers indicate that it was composed by the second century, although vocabulary and style indicate that it was written by someone other than Mark. It is a general resume of the material concerning the appearances of the risen Jesus, reflecting, in particular, traditions found in Lk 24 and Jn 20.

Rev. Richard Gabuzda notes that Christian life provides no guarantee of a life lived without struggle as he exhorts us to be in spiritual union with believers around the world.

Today, through the medium of these online reflections, we might imagine that we are in solidarity with hundreds, perhaps thousands of Christians throughout the world. Each one of them has experienced or will experience the truth proposed by First Peter. Each lives with sobriety and vigilance. Perhaps those experiencing today the consolation of faith might consciously pray for those experiencing some form of harassment or persecution. Those suffering with Jesus today might consciously pray to receive the grace of consolation flowing to them through the prayers of brothers and sisters throughout the world.

Don Schwager believes that today we witness a new Pentecost as the Lord pours out his Holy Spirit upon his people to renew and strengthen the body of Christ and to equip it for effective ministry and mission world-wide. He offers a prayer for this work.

“Lord Jesus, through the gift of your Holy Spirit, you fill us with an indomitable spirit of praise and joy which no earthly trial can subdue. Fill me with your resurrection joy and help me to live a life of praise and thanksgiving for your glory. May I witness to those around me the joy of the Gospel and the reality of your victory over the grave and gift of everlasting life.”

Friar Jude Winkler explains some of the assistance Peter received from Silvanus and Mark (his spiritual son). Ironically Mark did not write the Longer Ending. This amalgamation was likely done by a scribe to provide a more satisfactory ending. The Shorter Ending of the Gospel of Mark identifies Mary Magdalene as the “Apostle to the Apostles.”

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, reflects on the work of Cynthia Bourgeault on Mary Magdalene the Woman at the Heart of Christianity and the long time of sober vigilance to appreciate her contribution to Jesus ministry.

While [Mary Magdalene] has often been sentimentalized or sexualized, there has not until recently been the slightest threat of her being divinized, and her intact humanness is her saving grace. Now that a new generation of Bible scholarship has corrected the glaring inaccuracy of her earlier portrayal as a prostitute and is steadily laying the groundwork by which she will sooner or later be able to fully reclaim her role as Jesus’ spiritual partner and [wisdom] lineage bearer, what presents itself to us is an accessible and entirely believable portrait of “one who got there.”

As Rev. Gabuzda noted, some people take Jesus message as “bad news”. Gerard O’Connell, America’s Vatican correspondent,  reviews Pope Francis appointments of women to Vatican congregations including the the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The vital role of women in the commission to spread the good news hopefully is being better understood.

References


(n.d.). 1 Peter 5:8. Retrieved April 25, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/1peter/1peter5.htm

(n.d.). The Longer Ending. Retrieved April 25, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/mark16.htm

Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved April 25, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 25, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 25, 2018, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/