Good Day my Friends, 
I hope you are enjoying the sunshine, and long may it last.

Yesterday we  celebrated the Feast of St Mark the Evangelist (transferred from Sunday) and you won’t be surprised that I have a particular fondness for him as my parents saw fit to name me after him. Marcus is the Latin version of Mark.

It is very likely that he wrote his Gospel based fairly heavily on the sermons of St Peter, and he had a good knowledge of the thoughts of both Peter and Paul of whom he was a missionary companion. He is writing between AD 64-75, soon after Peter’s death during Nero’s persecution of the Roman Christians and he is writing to encourage his fellow Christians who are facing this crisis.
Both Matthew and Luke use Mark as source material, and slightly change his emphasis with a slightly more conservative approach towards the Jewish concept of the Messiah.

I think my fondness is captured because this Gospel is the oldest, and I am so moved by the idea of folk telling the story of the great things that God has done.
We all have stories, wondrous stories, and I have never hears anyone tell theirs and not been uplifted by it.

Do you remember we spent time during Lent reflecting on what Easter means to us. The idea was that we would think about it again and again and refine our understanding.
Well, do you fancy spending a little while, just between now and Pentecost thinking about your story of faith. Has it been smooth and seamless or has it been a struggle? Have you always felt close to God, or has he sometimes been far away? Were there people or events or even sermons that inspired or helped you? Is there anything particular about your journey that you believe would help others?

So, please give it some thought, and feel free to share your story with me if you would like to, but there certainly is no pressure.

Just to help us, I shall include some lovely quotes from Mark’s Gospel.

Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:15

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
10:14

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
1:15.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
12:30

Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.
10:42-45.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed.
6:51.

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
Mark 5:34

Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
Mark 5:36

Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Mark 9:24

It might be helpful for you to use the collect for St Mark as you begin your contemplation.

Almighty God,
who enlightened your holy Church
through the inspired witness of your evangelist Saint Mark:
grant that we, being firmly grounded
​in the truth of the gospel,
may be faithful to its teaching both in word and deed;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Bless you, Bless you, Bless you

As ever,

Fr Marcus