The Jesus Mark’s Gospel Reveals (Saturday Morning)

The Jesus Mark’s Gospel Reveals

We are all asked, ‘Who do you say that I am?’ How will you answer?

A Mini-Retreat with the Gospel of Mark

Feb. 13 (Saturday), 10 a.m. to noon central time

(This mini-retreat is also offered Feb. 9 (Tuesday) 6:30-8:30 p.m. central time. Click here for details.)

The Gospel of Mark will be read at many Christian worship services in 2021. What do you know about Mark and his Gospel?

Mark’s is the oldest gospel, written about 40 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus. At that time, Jerusalem was under siege by the Romans, and Christians in Rome were enduring an intense persecution. Peter and Paul had died, and only a few eyewitnesses to Jesus’ ministry were left. Jesus had not yet returned as the Christian community had expected.

Suffering had thrown Mark’s community into a spiritual crisis. They wondered what the future would hold. For Mark, everything, even Jesus’ glorious return, stands in the shadow of his Crucifixion.

These circumstances frame Mark’s Gospel and shape his primary themes. What does Mark have to say to us today?

This mini-retreat, offered via Zoom, will help answer these questions.

The retreat will be led by Fr. Ron Will, CPPS. To help prepare for the mini-retreat, you will want to read four short articles about Mark’s gospel written by Fr. Ron and available on the Renewal Center website.

Highlighted in the retreat will be:

• The vivid details Mark inserts into his narrative, which are the hallmark of an eyewitness.
• How Jesus’ idea of suffering infused his ministry and message.
• Jesus as a person of action rather than of words.
• The sheer humanity of Jesus in Mark’s gospel brings him very near to us.
• Mark’s primary themes: the Kingdom of God, the identity of Jesus and the call to discipleship.

Image above is the First page of the Gospel of Mark from a 14th-century Armenian illuminated manuscript painting by Sargis Pitsak.