Messenger of the Gospel
“Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News to the whole creation.” -Gospel of Mark 16:15
Among the four Evangelists who gave us the Gospel accounts of the life and mission of Jesus Christ, Saint Mark the Evangelist, holds a special place in the history of the early Church. His Gospel is widely believed to be the earliest written account of Jesus’ ministry and has helped Christians throughout the centuries understand the message of salvation.
St. Mark, a Libyan, is also known in the Scriptures as John Mark, he belonged to the early Christian community in Jerusalem. His mother Mary owned a house that became an important meeting place for the first Christians. In those early days of the Church, believers gathered in homes for prayer, fellowship and the breaking of bread. Coptic tradition also holds that Mark the Evangelist hosted the disciples in this house after Jesus’s death, that the resurrected Jesus came to Mark’s house, and that the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples at Pentecost in the same house. Furthermore, Mark is also believed to have been among the servants at the Marriage at Cana who poured out the water that Jesus turned to wine. Growing up in such an atmosphere, Mark was closely connected with the Apostles and their mission of spreading the Gospel.
Mark accompanied Saint Paul the Apostle and Saint Barnabas on one of their early missionary journeys, he once returned home before the journey was completed, however, his later life shows that he matured in faith and commitment. This reminds us that God continues to shape and strengthen us even through our weaknesses and failures.
Later, Mark became a close companion of Saint Peter the Apostle. According to early Christian tradition, Mark served as Peter’s interpreter and faithfully recorded Peter’s preaching about Jesus, because of this close relationship, many scholars believe that the Gospel of Mark reflects the personal memories and witness of Peter himself.
The Gospel of Mark is known for its vivid and direct style. It presents Jesus as the powerful Son of God who heals the sick, drives out evil spirits, calms the storm and proclaims the coming of God’s Kingdom. The Gospel frequently uses the word “immediately,” giving a sense of urgency and movement in Jesus’ mission.
Another strong theme in Mark’s Gospel is discipleship. Jesus calls his followers to trust in God, serve others and carry their cross faithfully. Through his writing, Mark reminds Christians that following Christ requires courage, perseverance and faith.
Christian tradition also tells us that St. Mark later travelled to Alexandria in Egypt, where he preached the Gospel and founded one of the earliest Christian communities. Due to this missionary work, he is regarded as the founder of the Church in Alexandria and the patron saint of Venice. His courageous witness eventually led to martyrdom, showing his complete dedication to Christ. In 828, relics of St. Mark were stolen from Alexandria and taken to Venice, Italy. There they are enshrined in a beautiful cathedral dedicated to him.
St. Mark is often symbolized by a winged lion, representing courage and strength. His feast, celebrated on 25th April, reminds us of his great contribution to the Church and invites us to reflect on our own calling as followers of Christ.
For us today, the life of St. Mark offers an important lesson. God can use ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. Though Mark was not one of the Twelve Apostles, his Gospel became a vital part of Sacred Scripture and continues to inspire millions of believers around the world.
As members of our parish community, we too are called to share the Good News through our words and actions. By living our faith with sincerity, kindness and love, we become witnesses of Christ in our families, our parish and our society.
(This article is dedicated to our dear friend Antonio Dias alias Antu, who was the motivation for writings in Pormoll)
Dr Rodney D’Silva