There are many theories about St. Mark’s life and journeys. But we do know that the Gospel of St. Mark is the earliest of the four Gospels. One of the oldest traditions about Mark says that he traveled with St. Peter and wrote down Peter’s catechesis and discourses, eventually travelling to Rome with Peter and probably forming a small Christian community there with Peter. Mark collected all the early Christians’ memories about Jesus and put everything into his Gospel.
As an evangelist, St. Mark felt an overwhelming need to share his faith with others. He dedicated time, energy, economic resources, and his whole life to preserving Jesus’ words and life for other people. Proclaiming and sharing the joy of his faith was the center of his life. Mark’s unique gift was listening to the oral proclamations of other’s experiences of the risen Christ and then carefully organizing all those experiences into a written Gospel.
I think that as a Church and as individuals we have lost that burning desire or even need to share our faith: to evangelize. All the first Christian were evangelizers in some way each according to their own gifts. They wrote down their experiences, like Mark; they publicly proclaimed they faith, like Peter and Paul; they supported the apostles; or they lived new lives in the Lord. All had that burning necessity that drove Mark to collect all the stories and experiences about Jesus to share with others. That is the center point for all Christians whatever their vocation. This is especially important now a days in the family. We have neglected transmitting and sharing the faith within the family. Mark’s Gospel ends with Jesus sending the disciple to share their faith and joy.
Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Image: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-mark-the-evangelist-444