Today's homily
In the name...
"Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry." That bare mention at the tail end of 2 Timothy, which was at the tail end of Paul's life, tells us that their story had a happy ending.
You remember the last mention Paul made of Mark, don't you? Barnabas had wanted to bring Mark along with them on their revisiting of the Churches and Paul put his foot down flat. No way was he having John Mark accompany them again – cousin of Barnabas or not. You remember why? John Mark had gotten homesick during the first missionary journey and had left Paul and Barnabas. To Paul, and his complete consecration to the mission of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, this was a matter of gravity. Perhaps he recalled the Lord's words about the those who look back after putting their hand to the plough.
Barnabas, whose name is apt and means "son of encouragement", was all for the second chance, but Paul was having none of it. And you remember their argument grew so hot, that these two great apostles went separate ways. Barnabas and Mark sail off to Cyprus and leaving Paul to do his own thing his own way. He chose Silas to accompany him and headed off on land through Syria and Celicia.
And yet, in today's epistle, an older and gentler Paul instructs Timothy to bring to him Mark, Mark who is "useful to me for ministry."
What happened? We can only guess at the details, but we know with certainty why it transpired. You cannot live in the love of Jesus Christ and harbor resentment. You cannot live in the forgiveness of Christ and steadfastly refuse to forgive. It's impossible.
No question that John Mark was wrong to turn back. And I do not doubt that he confessed as much to Paul face to face. But if Paul was going to go on living and serving this Lord of His who had knocked him off his horse on the Damascus road and turned him into the apostle of grace, then grace would have to have the final say in all his relationships too. Forgiveness won over Paul's heart. How could it be any other way? He would after all write in his imprisonment: "Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Eph. 4:32. Maybe he was preaching a bit to himself there.
And forgiveness is a powerful force. Mark may have turned back once upon a time and abandoned the mission, but in the forgiving love of His Savior he grew and he grew ever more bold. It took courage to hang out with Peter those last months. Peter would write from Rome: "She who is in Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings as does Mark, my son." 1 Pet 5. He spent the last days with Peter and through him God gave to the Church the gift of Peter's Gospel. What we call today the Gospel of Mark – as Peter was condemned and sentenced to death, Mark was scribbling down the memories of the Prince of the Apostles. And it was with both courage and joy that Mark later journeyed to Alexandria, and became the bishop of that city, only to be martyred for proclaiming to any and all the good news: "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Today's Gospel)
Far from fleeing the mission, Mark ended his life a mighty witness to the Savior came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many; a witness to Christ whose resurrection astounded the Marys and Salome and the unbelieving disciples. The Church rejoices in St. Mark's Gospel, in how St. Mark was used by the Holy Spirit to preserve for us St. Peter's witness to Christ. And she rejoices that in Christ, those set at odds with each other - and maybe even especially those set at odds with each other about how to do the work of the Lord! - can lay aside their accusations and self-righteousness and rejoice together that we are all, after all, only fellow recipients of the mercy of the Crucified, Risen and Reigning Lord, who sends His Gospel promise out to preached to the whole creation, and to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all glory and dominion, forever and ever! Amen.
Hymn: 481 Scatter the Darkness, Break the Gloom
Prayers:
Health Difficulties and those in need: Paula, Gene, Paula, Roger, Allan and Jan, Ken
Roosevelt and all who mourn for Leon Gray; comfort for his family and all who mourn the passing of Pastor Herman Otten
Missionaries: Rev. Joel and Clarion Fritsche, DR
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