Tuesday 25 April 2023

Background

This week we are reading Acts, but we interrupt today to celebrate the feast day of St Mark. Early Church tradition attributes the second gospel to John Mark, a companion at different times to both Peter and Paul (cf Acts 12:12 and 2 Timothy 4:11). It is traditionally thought Mark learned about Jesus directly from Peter, perhaps even being trained by him to narrate the stories of Jesus. Of the four gospels, Mark’s is the shortest and is believed to be the earliest, with much of his material reworked by both Luke and Matthew. 

Mark's Gospel has a sense of urgency, with the Greek word euthus meaning ‘at once’ or ‘immediately’ used over 30 times. Of the 16 chapters, Mark devotes six to the final week of Jesus’ life; his entry into Jerusalem, the increasing tension between him and the religious authorities and then his arrest, trial, crucifixion and resurrection. It has been suggested that the young man referred to in 14:51-52 might have been Mark himself. 

Today, 25 April, was chosen as the feast day for Mark as it is thought to be the date of the death of St Mark, patron saint of Venice, in 68 AD. 

 A key theme of Mark's Gospel is his emphasis on Jesus as the one who brings in the kingdom of God, the dynamic reign of God. The passage chosen for today is typically dramatic and urgent, with very similar passages found in both Matthew (24:4-14) and Luke (21:8-19). The whole of chapter 13 is written in what we might call ‘apocalyptic language’ – language about the end times, which often (as in the prophecy of Daniel or the Revelation of John) focuses on perplexing signs and predicted timetables. Here in Mark's Gospel, the emphasis is on the response of disciples to such times, and we note how in both verses 5 and 9 those listening to Jesus are charged to ‘Beware’ or ‘Be aware’. Jesus cautions them (and us) not be led astray by false messiahs. We are charged not to be alarmed by wars, earthquakes and famines, but to recognise them as signs of the beginning of the end times. In uncertain times we should concentrate on discipleship and allegiance to Jesus.

To Ponder:

• Does your own Christian discipleship have a sense of urgency? If not, how might you recapture that?
• What are the signs of the times of which we, as individuals or as a Church, need to ‘be aware’?
• What are the dangers of seeing earthquakes, famines and other disasters as ‘signs of the times’?

Prayer

Disturb us, Jesus, with the urgency of our witness, and fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may act wisely in troubled times. Amen.