HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF ST. MARK THE EVANGELIST.
THEME: Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.
BY: Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA.
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
1 Peter 5:5-14
Psalm 88:2-3,6-7,16-17
Mark 16:15-20
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
RED
*INTRODUCTION*
Dear friends in Christ, today we celebrate the feast of St Mark the Evangelist.
According to the tradition St. Mark became the disciple, interpreter and secretary of the apostle Peter, presumably because Peter did not speak Greek well enough to be easily understood. And so, Mark stood beside Peter and repeated his preaching about the life and teaching of Jesus. It is also said that, Mark, wrote down accurately the teaching of Peter, very careful not to omit anything or to add anything that was not related to the apostle Peter. In the 2nd Century, St. Justin Martyr calls the Gospel of Mark “the Memoirs, the Recollections of Peter.” The Gospel of Mark is really the Gospel of Peter. When you read the Gospel of Mark, you will realize it’s the testimony of Peter’s personal friendship with Jesus.
*FIVE INTERESTING FACTS WE NEED TO KNOW AS WE COMMEMORATE THE FEAST OF ST MARK,THE EVANGELIST*
1. St. Mark was St. Peter’s apprentice and travelled with him.
2. Aristopoulos and Saint Mary of Jerusalem, both evangelists, were St. Mark’s parents.
3. St. Mark became the bishop of the Alexandrian parish he founded.
4.St. Mark founded Alexandria’s first Christian institution.
5. Mark is the author of the Gospel of Mark
RELATED: HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF ST. MARK THE EVANGELIST.
*FROM THE LITURGICAL READINGS OF THE DAY*
As we have heard from our Scripture passages of today, from the letter of Peter and from the Gospel of St. Mark itself, we heard about our duty, obligation and calling that we have as Christians. In our every words, actions and deeds, we should always do what is right and just before the Lord, and be humble and obedient to the will of God. We should let the Lord lead and guide us in our path, and allow His Wisdom and the Holy Spirit to guide our steps, and to encourage and strengthen us so that we do not end up falling into the traps and downfall due to our sins and inability to resist the temptations to sin. All of us should our best to strive to be faithful and to obey the Lord’s will, to do His Law and commandments even amidst the trials and challenges that may face us in our journey of life as Christians.
*CONCLUSION*
As we rejoice together on this Feast day of St. Mark the Evangelist. Let us all follow in his footsteps and inspirations. May the Risen Lord, our God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ, continue guiding and strengthening us, so that all of us may come ever closer to the Holy Presence of God, and become ever more worthy and righteous in our way of life. May God bless us all, our every good works and efforts, our every ministry and interactions so that we may truly become great and wonderful beacons of His light and truth. St. Mark the Evangelist, Holy Servant of God, devoted to the end, pray for us all sinners.
Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA
*SOURCES AND RECOGNITIONS*
1. Butler’s Lives of the Saints by John Gilmary Shea, Benziger Brothers: New York, 1894).
2. Fr Willy Villegas, SVD Bible Diary 2002).
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