The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Feast of Saint Mark, evangelist, underline our commission to bring the Good News to our environment through our humble example of our connection to Christ.
The reading from the First Letter of Peter offers advice to the community on humility and suffering.
* [5:1–4] In imitation of Christ, the chief shepherd, those entrusted with a pastoral office are to tend the flock by their care and example.
* [5:1] Presbyters: the officially appointed leaders and teachers of the Christian community (cf. 1 Tm 5:17–18; Ti 1:5–8; Jas 5:14).
* [5:4] See note on 1 Pt 2:25.
* [5:5–11] The community is to be subject to the presbyters and to show humility toward one another and trust in God’s love and care (1 Pt 5:5–7). With sobriety, alertness, and steadfast faith they must resist the evil one; their sufferings are shared with Christians everywhere (1 Pt 5:8–9). They will be strengthened and called to eternal glory (1 Pt 5:10–11).
* [5:5] Younger members: this may be a designation for office-holders of lesser rank.
* [5:12] Silvanus: the companion of Paul (see 2 Cor 1:19; 1 Thes 1:1; 2 Thes 1:1). Jews and Jewish Christians, like Paul, often had a Hebrew name (Saoul, Silas) and a Greek or Latin name (Paul, Silvanus). On Silvanus’s possible role as amanuensis, see Introduction.
* [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). (1 Peter, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 89 praises God’s Covenant with David.
* [Psalm 89] The community laments the defeat of the Davidic king, to whom God promised kingship as enduring as the heavens (Ps 89:2–5). The Psalm narrates how God became king of the divine beings (Ps 89:6–9) and how the Davidic king became king of earthly kings (Ps 89:20–38). Since the defeat of the king calls into question God’s promise, the community ardently prays God to be faithful to the original promise to David (Ps 89:39–52).
* [89:3–5] David’s dynasty is to be as long-lasting as the heavens, a statement reinforced by using the same verbs (establish, stand) both of the divine love and loyalty and of the Davidic dynasty and throne, cf. Ps 89:29–30.
* [89:7] The sons of the gods: “the holy ones” and “courtiers” of Ps 89:6, 8. These heavenly spirits are members of God’s court. (Psalms, PSALM 89 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Mark describes Signs, the Ascension of Jesus and the Commissioning of the Eleven.
* [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. (Mark, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)
John Shea, S.J. comments that Mark’s Jesus is blue-collared, compassionate, earthy, and constantly on the move. He’s a carpenter who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty by touching bodily fluids and other people’s wounds. Jesus is always on a journey, a step ahead of his disciples so you feel an urgency in Mark’s gospel account (the word, “immediately” occurs 27 times in Mark’s gospel). His followers are often confused, afraid and, in some cases, run around naked!
As we celebrate the Feast of Saint Mark, can we be inspired to act “immediately” and preach the Good News to those around us? Or are we too afraid to get our hands dirty by touching those most in need? Like Jesus’ disciples we may feel confused and lost, but can we feel the same compassion that Jesus had for his lost sheep? To paraphrase Pope Francis, can we be humble shepherds with the ‘smell of the sheep’ on our hands? (Shea, 2017)
Don Schwager quotes “The Gospel proclaimed to all creation,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"The command to the apostles to be witnesses to him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8) was not addressed exclusively to those to whom it was immediately spoken. They alone would not be the only ones who would carry such an enormous task to completion. Similarly he seems to be speaking to the apostles very personally when he says: 'Behold I am with you even to the end of the world' (Matthew 28:20), yet who does not know that he made this promise to the universal church which will last from now even to the consummation of the world by successive births and deaths?" (excerpt from LETTER 199,TO HESYCHIUS 49) (Schwager, 2017)
The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Peter 5:5-14 comments that God didn’t just “dictate” the Gospel to Mark. Nor did he drop down a book from the sky. Instead, he worked with him and through him. That’s how he works with us, too. He inspires us, guides us, and uses our gifts for his greater purpose: to build his kingdom. We might feel unworthy to partner with the Spirit of God, but our Lord doesn’t see it that way. How awesome that he puts such trust in us!
Did Mark know that his Gospel would be handed down over two millennia and read, studied, and treasured by countless people? Probably not. He simply cooperated with the Holy Spirit. In honor of this great saint, may we do the same today—and every day—in whatever way God wants to use us!
“St. Mark, thank you for writing your Gospel. Help me to trust in the Spirit as you did.” (Meditation on 1 Peter 5:5-14, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the authorship of the letters of Peter and the thought that the Greek is too good for a Galilean fisherman. Peter and John Mark (Mark) were together in Rome (Babylon) where Peter’s eyewitness accounts supported the Gospel. Friar Jude reminds us that the longer ending of Mark is accepted as canonical as it is likely composed from the Gospels of John and Luke.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares the experience of Theologian Randy Woodley who tells of being invited by a friend to a contemplative prayer gathering. There are a lot of different contemplative traditions when it comes to silence. In our Native way, we are more or less listening, not just to ourselves or what we would say the Spirit puts in our hearts, but to what’s going on around us. We’re listening to the birds to see what kind of message they have. We’re listening to the wind to see if there’s a song in it for us. It might sound esoteric, but we’re listening to the way that we “spin in silence” by hearing what I believe is perhaps Creator’s most communicative means on earth—which is creation.
I think of that when I read Luke chapter 4, the story where Jesus goes out into the wilderness for forty days. The idea we’ve been taught is that he is tempted for forty days, but everybody knows that you can’t be tempted for forty days. Let’s say the temptations took up ten days—well, what about the other thirty? What was he doing? Jesus was watching creation. He was observing what was going on around him. He was listening. The reason that we know that is because when he comes back, he talks about creation for the rest of his life. He talks about flowers and birds and trees and seeds and crops and the earth, and the soil. He could have talked about all kinds of things—Roman chariots and their power and aqueducts and the ingenuity involved—but that’s not what we have a record of. What we have a record of is someone who seemed to be at peace with the quietness of creation.… (Rohr, 2017)
We seek the disposition to be open to the nudges of the Spirit as we move through our day and allow ourselves to see and hear and like the Good Shepherd, smell like our sheep.
References
Mark, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/16?15
Meditation on 1 Peter 5:5-14. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/04/25/942698/
1 Peter, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1peter/5?5
Psalms, PSALM 89 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/89?2
Rohr, R. (2017, November 9). Where the Spirit Speaks. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/where-the-spirit-speaks/
Schwager, D. (2017, November 9). Go and Preach the Gospel to the Whole Creation. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=apr25a
Shea, J. (2017, November 9). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/042524.html
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