+ St. Mark was converted to the faith by St. Peter, Mark
being one of his disciples who afterwards accompanied him to Rome, acting there
as his secretary and interpreter. When St. Peter was writing his first epistle to
the churches of Asia, he affectionately joins with his own salutation that of
his faithful companion, whom he calls “my son Mark.”
The Roman people asked St.
Mark to put in writing for them the substance of St. Peter’s frequent
discourses on Our Lord’s life. This the Evangelist did under the eye and with
the express sanction of St. Peter, and every page of his brief but graphic
gospel so bore the markings of St. Peter’s character, that the Fathers used to
name it “Peter’s Gospel.”
St. Mark was then sent to
Egypt to found the Church of Alexandria. Here his disciples became the wonder
of the world for their piety and asceticism, so that St. Jerome speaks of St.
Mark as the father of the anchorites, who at a later time thronged the Egyptian
deserts. Here too, he set up the first Christian school, the fruitful mother of
many illustrious doctors and bishops.
After many years of governing
his see, St. Mark was one day seized by heathens, dragged by rope over stones,
and thrown into prison. This was repeated the next day, but at that point Mark
was consoled by a vision of angels and with the voice of Jesus accompanying
him, he went to his reward.
It was from the sketch of St.
Mark’s Gospel that the other 3 gospel writers took their cue, and in time a
rounded, balanced and canonically accepted picture of Jesus, Son of God come to
earth, emerged. And it was his message that was proclaimed to all the world, at
his command, when he ascended into heaven to return again one day to judge men
and women on their deeds of charity.
We thank God for the seed of
the gospel that he related through St Mark, may we likewise in this spring time
of the year, plant similar seeds of faith in the hearts and minds of all we
meet this day- sometimes all it takes is a friendly glance, a kind word, a
helpful gesture – and the recipient may be touched by the Spirit and turn to
God in ways they least expect!
We
proclaim Christ crucified; he is the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
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