Celebrating the Feast of St. Mark, The Evangelist: Tuesday, 25 April 2023. Who was St. Mark?

Dear friends in Christ, today we celebrate the  Feast of one of the writers of the four gospels, St. Mark the Evangelist. According to Apostolic tradition, St. Mark was one of the disciples of the Lord, counted among the seventy disciples that Jesus sent to do His work and ministry among the people.

St. Mark is, of course, most well-known for compiling the accounts and details of the Lord’s ministry as told and revealed by the Apostles. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote the Gospel, directed in particular to the Gentiles.

He went to Alexandria in Egypt, where he helped to establish a strong and flourishing Christian community. He became the first Bishop and Patriarch of Alexandria.

Through his efforts and works, the Church in Alexandria grew rapidly and wonderfully as many Christians and missionaries continued planting the seed of faith throughout the Roman Empire. According to apostolic tradition, he was martyred during the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero.

At that same time, the first of the very intense persecution by the Roman state and institutions were assembled against the Christian faithful.  It was a time when many of the leaders of the Church endured great suffering and martyrdom together with much Christian faithful.

Nevertheless, despite the persecution, the courage and dedication which St. Mark and the other dedicated Christians had continued to inspire many even long after they had gone. Today, you and I are Christians because they stood firm for Christ.

Let us ask ourselves a question:

Do we endure trials for the sake of the Jesus Christ? Or we rather flee and abandon the Lord whenever things are not favourable to us, and come seeking Him only when we have need of Him, or when we want Him to do something for us?

May St. Mark the Evangelist who devoted himself to Christ to the end, pray for us. Amen.