Mark 1: The Mystery of Jesus
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
We visited this portion of Mark’s Gospel a few years ago when we reflected on the divergent images of fire and water – the fire of the Spirit within and the cleanness of the water that purifies. Jesus is both human and divine; he is a vessel that holds – what seems to be – two contrary natures. Jesus comes to tell us that we too, as his adopted sisters and brothers, have this potential to hold two opposing forces. He comes to tells us that the impossible is possible when we live in him. He comes to tell us that the Mystery of Christ is also the Mystery of our own origin.
Mark writes his Gospel with amazing clarity and precision. We see a lightning view of Jesus’ meteoric rise and then what appears to be a fading into darkness . . . but we know better. When circumstances are darkest, hope is strongest. When the light seems the most dim . . . clarity arrives within. This is the Mystery we understand from our brother Jesus.
Mark’s original story ends at 16:8: Then they went out and fled from the tomb, seized with trembling and bewilderment. They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Sometime later the final stories of the Resurrection and Ascension were added. Some believe that the final portion of the original was lost (Senior 94). There is speculation about who added which ending and when – but there is no doubt about the veracity of the story. The fervor here cannot be denied. Just as Jesus cannot be denied, despite all of our efforts to put ourselves first and Christ last.
We are human. We are divine. When it is dark, it is bright. Where there is fire, it does not consume but feeds us. Where there is water, it purifies and cleanses rather than drowns. We need not fuss and fidget with the details of this story. We do not need to look for inconsistencies or to point at events we think cannot have taken place. All we need do is trust and believe. All we need do is relax into the mystery . . . and enjoy its wonder and beauty.
A re-post from February 19, 2012.
Image from: https://hdqwalls.com/fire-water-heart-art-wallpaper
Senior, Donald, ed. THE CATHOLIC STUDY BIBLE. New York, Oxford University Press, 1990.94. Print.
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