02-01-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
February 1, 2024
I am leading a six-week study of Mark’s Gospel, beginning February 8, at 1:30pm. We will use the new study book by Amy-Jill Levine entitled, The Gospel of Mark: A Beginner’s Guide to the Good News. Like all of Dr. Levine’s material, I am excited by the new insights she will be bringing to this portion of scripture. Of course, unlike Luke and Matthew, Mark has no birth narratives, or what we might call Christmas stories. The Gospel simply begins with the words:

The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, God’s Son, happened just as it was written about in the prophecy of Isaiah:
Look, I am sending my messenger before you.
He will prepare your way,
a voice shouting in the wilderness:
        “Prepare the way for the Lord;
        make his paths straight.” 

Notice that the Gospel writer does not say the good news of Jesus happened exactly the way I am going to describe it, but points back to the Prophet Isaiah as one who provides a framework for telling the Jesus story. The Lord is coming, and what are we going to do to prepare? Maybe the Gospel writer is inviting us to become acquainted with the Jesus story as a way of preparing ourselves to receive the Lord anew.

Heavenly Father, O Prince of Peace, bring me again and again to the Jesus story. It is there, with an open mind and available spirit, that I will grow in my appreciation of who you are, Lord, and what it means for me to follow you in this moment of time. Amen.