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     Mark the evangelist composed the first of the four gospels, even though for historical reasons it is in second place in the New Testament.  The evangelists Matthew and Luke borrowed heavily from Mark in composing their portraits of Jesus and then added their own sources and traditions.  

     The Gospel According to Mark is characterized by its brevity and its insistence that faith in Jesus must begin with the cross.  The resurrection gets, in comparison with the others,  little attention, which may account for the "appendices" that were added later and accepted as part of the gospel.  Someone must have thought the original was TOO brief.   Today's celebration of the feast of St. Mark features a selection from one of these "appendices!"

     Mark presents a blunt and straightforward Jesus with a group of uncomprehending disciples.  They are uncomprehending because no matter what Jesus did in his ministry, they would not understand him until his crucifixion.  Even then, as the same "appendix" points out, Jesus rebukes them because they did not believe the accounts of his resurrection when the first witnesses told them.  But, since he now had their attention, he gives them their marching orders: Go out into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.  Those marching orders are ours, too!  The proclamation of the resurrection does not end with the end of the liturgical season of Easter.  It is a year round proclamation, even in Christmas time!  Then, now and always: CHRIST IS RISEN!  ALLELUIA!  AMEN