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Sampling A Section of the Gospel of Mark

© alberto esmeralda

Sampling Mark 1:1-45

The previous articles have dealt with some aspects of biblical prose. But biblical prose is not meant merely to arouse in the reader a sense of the beautiful, as in the case of the great classics. It is meant above all to allow us to enter into the collective history of a people which knows itself as chosen by God to have a special place in His divine plan. In reading biblical prose, then, we, the readers, are challenged first of all, to make our own the memory of a people and to enter their own history.

The prose of the New Testament, especially those found in the Gospels, narrate the memory that the apostles had of Jesus of Nazareth. It is, of course, a memory already "affected" by their recognition of Him as Lord and Christ. In this section, of our pages, we begin a sampling of some of the pages in the Gospel of Mark. We choose the Gospel of Mark because it is the first Gospel to be written and because it was meant for neophytes in the faith. This article is presented as a guide for the reading of Mark 1:1-45. Be sure to read the text of Mark first before reading this article. At the end of the article, I give directions for writing on a journal. The "journal" can be, for now, a mere piece of paper that one can keep between the pages of one's bible. In keeping with the thrust of these articles, I would strongly recommend that the reader take notes of the thoughts the he/she has while reading the text of scriptures. One never knows when those thoughts can become a "timely word." Lest those thoughts are forgotten, they should be captured in a piece of paper for review at a later date.

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1.  Read this first before beginning the “Lectio.”

            1.1.  Introduction to the Selected Passages.  The passages you are about to read can be roughly divided into two parts:  1:1-15 (the Prologue to the Gospel) and 1:16-45 (The Revelation of Jesus’ Authority in Galilee.)

            1.2.  Testimonies about Jesus.  In the Gospel of Mark, we encounter Jesus, first through three important witnesses:  The prophets of the Old Testament (Isaiah and Malachi, cf. 1:2-3), John the Baptist (cf. Vv. 7-8), and the voice from heaven (V.11).  The testimonies of these three witnesses, appearing as they do in the Prologue, set the tone for our way of understanding Mark’s presentation of Jesus and define the parameters of our encounter with Him.  Mark 1:16-20 presents Jesus as he moves among the people of Galilee.  From these stories, we hear other voices telling us about Jesus. Of these voices, we hear  those of the demons who recognize Jesus (vv. 24 and  34) and that of the crowds for whom the authority of Jesus is a cause of wonderment (v.27).  From Peter, we know that Jesus is much sought after (v. 37).  But most important of all is the voice of the narrator, Mark, who drew his memories of Jesus and his deeds -- so tradition tells us -- from Peter himself.  Our encounter with Jesus can only be possible through the memory of the apostles.  By reading this gospel, we come in touch with this memory.