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TheGospel of Mark was written to be heard, not read, by those eager to experiencethe good news of Jesus as the Christ. And it was meant to be heard as a whole –not read silently in little pieces. On most Sundays in the coming year we willlisten to selections of readings from the Gospel of Mark. This course offers anintroduction to the gospel and highlights some of its main themes andcharacteristics. The course is designed to help participants read, and moreimportantly hear, Mark’s Gospel more perceptively and more powerfully duringthe Liturgy of the Word at Mass.
The Passion
Session 1: Setting the Scene: Preparing for Christ’s Ministry
This session sets the scene for Mark’s account of Jesus’ ministry, through a detailed study of the prologue (Mk1:1-13). This prologue is only thirteen verses, yet it is a crucial, densely-packed section inviting careful study as a guide to the rest of Mark’s Gospel. Each section of the prologue is examined in turn, with an eye to how the sections fit together: the opening title; the function of the OT quotations; the role of John the Baptist (the significance of his clothing, diet, and actions); the baptism of Jesus (and its anticipation of the crucifixion); Jesus’ temptation in the desert.
Session 2: What Kind of Messiah? An Enigmatic Christ
This session considers Mark’s distinctive portrayal of Jesus, an attractive yet mysterious character ultimately incomprehensible even to those closest to him. It considers the very human emotions attributed to Jesus by Mark, together with those of his actions and sayings which were more associated with the divine. Key titles of Jesus are examined (Messiah, Son of God, Son of Man), considering both how they might have been understood in the 1stcent. Jewish world, and how Mark’s use of them stretches their meaning. The ultimate goal is to answer the question: What kind of Messiah is Jesus the Messiah that Mark portrays?
Session 3: Learning to Follow Jesus: Disciples, Apostles and The Twelve
This session examines Mark’s complex but predominantly negative depiction of Jesus’ disciples. Following a definition of discipleship, it considers the relationship between “disciples”,“ apostles”, and “the Twelve” in Mark’s Gospel. It considers the changing face of the disciples throughout Mark’s narrative, from enthusiastic following through frustrating misunderstanding to fearful abandonment, and how the story of John the Baptist’s death serves as a commentary on their vocation and failure. Finally, it identifies minor characters who seem to function positively as “hidden disciples”, who do or say what true di.
Session 4: Coming to See: The Journey to Jerusalem
This session reflects on the motif of the transformative journey in classic literature, before tracing the final journey of Jesus and his disciples from Caesarea Philippi through Galilee to Jerusalem and the cross. It considers how Mark has carefully crafted chs 8-10 by bracketing the section with the healings of two blind men, which function as commentaries on the disciples’ ability or inability to “see”. The repeated pattern of passion prediction, misunderstanding and correction is examined, in this crucial section which brings the demands of discipleship to the fore.
Brian is a tutor in the theology stream. Originally from Birmingham, Brian studied philosophy and theology at the Gregorian University, Rome and later gained a Masters Degree in Franciscan Studies from St. Bonaventure’s University, New York. He has given retreats and courses throughout the UK and Ireland, North America, the Far East and Australia. He taught at the International Franciscan Study, Canterbury and at Campion House, Osterley before joining the Mount Street Jesuit Team when it began in 2004. Brian also taught at Heythrop College on the Foundation Degree in Pastoral Ministry. His particular interest is in opening up the Scriptures to people, young and old, at a level that they can understand and seek to apply to their daily lives. Brian is married to Deborah who works for CAFOD. They live in Buckinghamshire.
