Fix our gaze upon Jesus, who will guide us by the WAY of FAITH and lead us to fullness (Heb 12:2) 2- Year of FAITH Nuns of Sant Benet de Montserrat

The gaze fixed upon Jesus of the GOSPEL OF MARK II

The Theology of Mark is the closest to Jesus, that of John is the latest and elaborate one. The historical Jesus does not say outright that He is the Messiah, the Son of God, He lets his followers identify Him GOSPEL OF MARK A THEOLOGICAL Gospel

1st PART - Christological statements: - The Father proclaims that He is the Son (Baptism) - The demons confess it (Holy, Son) - People are asking (1:27; 2:7; 4:41; 8:18; 8:21) IN THE CENTER: Peter recognizes Him MESSIAH (1st title) 2nd PART - Christological statements: - The Father calls Him Son (Transfiguration) - Jesus says that He will be a crucified Messiah -Jesus confesses that He is the Messiah-Son (14:62 Passion) - END: On the Cross, the centurion confesses Him SON OF GOD (2nd title) THEOLOGY OF MARK Mark makes theology in the very structure of the book, putting the "titles" of Jesus in high places

BEGINNING IN GALILEE - 1:14-20 Announces the arrival of the Kingdom and invites disciples to collaborate - 1: A day of Jesus to Capernaum - 1: Cleansing of a leper 1st PART OF THE GOSPEL Mk 1:16 – 3:6

THE BEGINNING IN GALILEE 1:14-20 Kingdom Announcement and Call Mk 1: After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: 15 This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. The Call of the First Disciples. 16 As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. 17Jesus said to them, Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. 18Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. 19He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. 20 Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of God Taking over the Baptist, Jesus proclaimed that God has to give us good news: his Kingdom is near us. To belong to him we must convert. GOD not only Reigns in heaven but also on EARTH. Work to be active, is the conversion

Jesus does not want to proclaim the Kingdom He himself alone; since the very first moment, he calls collaborators: Jesus calls Peter and Andrew, James and John, and to US ALL, for us to tell everyone that the Kingdom of God already wants to be present among us Response, decision, illusion…

1:21-38 One day of Jesus in Capernaum Formerly, there was one day activity explained of the big teachers serving as a "model" for others; that is why Mark explains it also of Jesus. Mk 1: Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. 23 In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; 24 he cried out, What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you arethe Holy One of God! 25 Jesus rebuked him and said, Quiet! Come out of him! 26 The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. 27 All were amazed and asked one another, What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him. 28 His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee. The Cure of Simons Mother-in-Law. 29 On leaving the synagogue he entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. 30Simons mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. 31He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. 32 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. 33The whole town was gathered at the door. 34 He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. 35 Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and those who were with him pursued him 37 and on finding him said, Everyone is looking for you. 38 He told them, Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.

-In the morning He goes to the synagogue Mk 1, At noon He goes to Peter's house Mk 1: At nightfall He cures all those who go in His search Mk 1: Early in the morning He wakes up to pray, alone, in a secluded place Mk 1:35-38 A DAY of Jesus is constituted of: Teaching, with authority in the Synagogue Healings, doing good to all Prayer, in solitary

In the SYNAGOGUE The evil spirits confess Him the Holy of God The gaze fixed upon Jesus Everyone sees He has AUTHORITY Everyone wonders: Who is this?

Jesus brings the Kingdom with AUTHORITY FAITH cannot be shameful: St. Paul says: "Preach the Kingdom with authority" (Titus 2:15) FAITH is a responsibility: What good is it, if someone says he has faith but if his actions do not show it? (Jm 2:14)

At NOON, in PETER'S HOUSE Touched by Jesus, we are healed to be SERVERS. Serving a WOMAN, the mother-in-law, is model for the Christians.

Jesus makes us SERVERS, as He FAITH makes us available to others: So understood it the first Christians, as close to the Gospel: And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common (Acts 2:44)

At NIGHTFALL JESUS HEALS MANY He wants to heal us from all ills, physical or moral Let us draw near to Him with full confidence Heb 4:16

The Kingdom makes no distinction between people FAITH opens us to EVERYONE, believers of all religions, Gnostics or atheists, without any kind of exclusiveness. You who believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, you should not do differences between some people and others. (Jm 2:1)

He EARLY IN THE MORNING, He prays alone He prays alone We pray Him The gaze fixed upon Him He and we can pray TOGETHER

The PRAYER makes part of the KINGDOM Christian prayer is judicious: Be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer (1Pe 4:7) But prayer is also Gift of God: In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to Gods will. (Rm 8:26-27)

Mk 1:40-45 CLEANSING OF A LEPER 40 A leper came to him [and kneeling down] begged him and said, If you wish, you can make me clean. 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, I do will it. Be made clean. 42 The leprosy left him immediately, and he was ma de clean. 43 Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. 44 Then he said to him, See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them. 45 The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere. (Continued) BEGINNING IN GALILEE

Jesus and the leper, face to face -Skipping legal purity standards (to approach nobody), the leper begging with confidence: If you wish.... -Without reproaching him the infringement, Jesus has COMPASSION FOR, and touches him (infringing). -Cleansed, He sends him to the priests (the official church). -Jesus commands him SILENCE (still not the time for easy proclamations about who He is). [Marks feature] - The marginalized one (leper) begins to preach.

Jesus and the leper The misfit (leper) becomes close, the nearby (Jesus) moves towards unpopulated places The contact with Jesus, brought him to relate to WORLWIDE

With Jesus the excluded become INCLUDED Faith brings us close to all: 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, 18 for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God. (Eph 2:17-19)

WE BELIEVE in the Jesus of the Gospel of Mark -Lord Jesus, we believe that You have brought us the KINGDOM of God (His spirit) -Lord Jesus, we believe that You CALL us to spread TODAY this way of doing -Lord Jesus, we believe that You have the AUTHORITY of God, and You give it to us -Lord Jesus, we believe that You want to HEAL us, and want that, like You, we cure others - Lord Jesus, we believe you spent nights praying for us all, and we want to accompany You.

END Will continue