Wednesday of this week is the feast day of St Mark, Apostle and Evangelist. This
week’s prayers are based on the life and work of St Mark.
Monday 24 April
It is believed that St Mark wrote his Gospel, the second and shortest of the four
Gospels, in Rome during the time of the early church. At this time, Christians faced
persecution for their faith at the hands of the Roman emperor, Nero.
From the very start of his Gospel, Mark tells the Roman Christians that the message
of Jesus is Good News. He aims to inspire the followers of the early church when
they were most challenged in their faith. He tells them that if they follow Jesus, God
will help them and their faith will be rewarded.
In our world today, many Christians face persecution. May they find strength in the
words of Mark’s Gospel.
“Our Father…”
Tuesday 25 April
In Mark’s Gospel, Mark tells us how Jesus called his disciples to follow him and
share in his ministry. Jesus tells them that he will make them fishers of men. They
recognised Jesus’ authority and followed him instantly.
We pray that we will be inspired in our faith to be good disciples and bear witness to
Jesus’ message in our own lives.
“Our Father…”
Wednesday 26 April
Today is the feast day of St Mark. St Mark is often represented by a symbol of a lion
because he begins his Gospel in the wilderness, `The voice of one crying in the
desert: Make ready the way of the Lord,' or because he presents the Lord as the
unconquered King.
We pray that God gives us the courage and strength to share the Good News of
Jesus’ resurrection in our lives.
“Almighty God, who by the hand of Mark the evangelist have given to your Church
the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God: We thank you for this witness, and pray
that we may be firmly grounded in its truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.”
We pray that God will always help us to be strong witnesses to our faith.
Hail Mary….
Thursday 27 April
Jesus as Son of Man
In his Gospel Mark speaks again and again about Jesus as the Son of Man and the
Son of God.
Mark shows his readers that Jesus understands human life. He uses Jesus’ own
stories (or parables) to show this. In these parables, Jesus gives us a message
about how we should treat one another, God and ourselves. Jesus used images in
his stories that everyone listening to them would understand. Many people were
farmers, so Jesus often used shepherds, lambs or seeds in his stories.
Mark saw that all the Christians in Rome were afraid, and he was worried that they
might lose their faith in Jesus. Mark believed that they should not be scared because
Jesus was always with them and understood their fears. After all, Jesus was a
human being too.
We as Mary our Mother to pray with us for courage to practise our faith even when
we face challenges.
Hail Mary…
Friday 28 April
Jesus as Son of God
Through his Gospels, Mark tells us that he believes Jesus is the Son of God. He
illustrates his faith by telling us about the many miracles that Jesus performed. Mark
shows Jesus as having power over sickness, evil and even death.
Jesus is with us now, and like Jesus, His followers will live forever in company with
Him! This is Good News indeed!
Each Friday lunchtime we have the opportunity to worship Jesus fully human and
fully God in the Blessed Sacrament at Eucharistic Adoration.
Hail Mary……..