April 25th is the feast day of St. Mark, one of the four evangelists and author of what many consider to be the first Gospel. With April 25th falling on a Sunday we may miss an opportunity to recognize this important feast.
St. Mark was a cousin of St. Barnabas and was part of the traveling group that accompanied St. Paul on his first mission trip and later to Rome. Mark became a disciple of St. Peter whose teachings were a source of inspiration for Mark's Gospel. His Gospel was written sometime after the persecutions of the Roman Emperor Nero, probably around the year 70. St. Mark's Gospel is the shortest among the four as it concentrates on the sayings and stories of Jesus beginning with his public ministry. The pace of the Gospel is quick. Mark brings us to the saving message of the cross rather quickly. His Gospel helped shape the overall Christian message in the early days of the Church.
St. Mark is also believed to have gone to Alexandria where he became their 1st Bishop. On a return trip to Alexandria he was attacked by a group worshiping pagan gods and was drug through the town with a rope tied around the neck until he died.
It is a wonderful tradition of the Church to honor the Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
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