Mark also explains to us how important generosity is, and today especially with the difference in wealth from extreme wealth to extreme poverty. And we learn like the poor widow in the gospel to give as much as we can. in this story the poor widow gives all she can afford even though it is not much. This shows the generosity expected of disciples and teaches us how to live today.
I think that today a lot of Mark’s gospel is still relevant. We can still interpret things from the Gospel into our own lives.
For example, to persist with a faith even though this is why you are being persecuted against, I believe that this is real courage. Especially with living in an are such as Northern Ireland where religion is such an important issue. Courage is needed in a disciple.
In Mark(9;14-29) we are told of the need for prayer and therefore this is very relevant to our own lives. In this story Jesus explains that great healing can only come from prayer “Only prayer can drive this kind out,” he then said, “Nothing else can.” What I think we can learn from this is that without prayer we are nothing, and we can do nothing.
In my opinion, a disciple would have a different outlook on life than others. A proper disciple, I think would not be as conscious of money than others. They sacrifice their lives, families, jobs and wealth to help others. They are not abscessed with the value of money, although they do, do what they can to raise funds for the poor and less fortunate.
I would always consider a disciple a person who sacrifices his/her lives for others. I think this is important as if you are not fully committed to Jesus and his works there in no point.
My image of a disciple would be classed as a stereotypical one, of a priest or nun yet I do understand that any person can be a disciple. When I think of discipleship I always think of religion, and therefore I believe that to do good works strong faith is needed in a disciple.
we have all heard of the famous disciples who have done brilliant works throughout the world like Dr. Martin Luther King the black cicil rights activist and Maximillian Kolbe who, in a Nazi concentration camp sacrificed his life for a married man with a family.
These are good examples of discipleship yet, I have a more personal example. I know a priest who is a relation of mine and I believe that he has applied the teaching in Mark’s Gospel to every day life. He called Fr. Geard Cunningham and he is a missionary priest in Africa, and has been all of his life. Just as we are told in Mark’s Gospel to live simply I think he follows this, he only comes back to Ireland once or twice a year to raise and he doesn’t seem to have any possessions.
Every year in Keady, Co. Armagh there is a big fund raising event held for Fr. Cunningham, everyone has great respect for him.
I would consider him to be generous, of great faith and prayer and he has scarified his life for a good cause so I think he should be called a good disciple of Jesus.
At this present time in the world there are threats of war and famine and if everyone practised the disciple shown in Mark’s gospel the world be a better place. Israel and Palestine could use compromise and forgiveness to resolve their differences.
In St.Mark’s Gospel Jesus was against violence and in Mark 14:48-50, Jesus is cross at the high priests men coming to arrest him with clubs and swords. From this today we can learn that all forms of violence is wrong and weapons are not needed in the world today. And if we followed the relevant example set in Mark’s Gospel we would live in a better world.
