The theme of the Stauros Notebook is "Reflections on the Mystery of Suffering." Over the p

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The theme of the Stauros Notebook is "Reflections on the Mystery of Suffering." Over the past several months we have examined suffering as it is related to the violence of our times. In this issue we will consider suffering from a different angle. We will examine the Gospel of Mark and how it relates to suffering. It is particularly appropriate that we do this now, since this is the year in which we are reading the Gospel of Mark each Sunday.

Mark's gospel is a gospel of suffering Messiahship and suffering discipleship--we can perhaps relate to both. We know Jesus as the suffering Messiah, the Suffering Servant, the Crucified. In Mark's gospel, Jesus is moving directly, quickly, steadfastly, to Calvary. It is a gospel of suffering discipleship--the apostles do not look good in Mark's Gospel because they do not understand this. Jesus reprimands them many times. After the storm at sea Jesus says, "Why are you so terrified? Why are you lacking in faith ?"(4:40). After he walked on the water the gospel tells us that they had not understood about the bread which he had miraculously multiplied. Their minds were closed to the meaning of the events, and Jesus says, "Do you still not understand?" Again, after the cure of the possessed boy, the gospel tells us that they failed to understand his words. And then, in the end, in Gethsemane, they all deserted him and fled.

There's a reason for all these references to unfaithful disciples, disciples who do not under- stand, disciples who do not look good. The author of this gospel probably wrote in the late 60's before the Temple was destroyed, and shortly after the persecutions of Nero. The Christian Community to which Mark addressed his Gospel was a community that knew suffering and knew it well. Mark is writing for a suffering community. He needed to tell that community that Jesus suffered just as his followers were now being asked to suffer, that Jesus had told his disciples that suffering was a part of following him, and that Jesus had promised rewards to those who faithfully endured suffering. Mark is a gospel written to strengthen and encourage Christians facing martyrdom. Some Christians, many Christians, were totally faithful and underwent heroic martyrdom for the new faith, but it is very likely that others betrayed the community and ran away in fear. Just as in Gethsemane the disciples deserted him and fled, so some of these early Christians, too, deserted and fled. We know of the many martyrs but what do we know of the people who didn't have the courage to withstand martyrdom? Think, if you will, about them--think about their suffering. Mark's community certainly included such persons.

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Let us focus on why this gospel fits the theme of Stauros, why it is a reflection on the mystery of suffering. Mark's gospel is, first of all, a dynamic story that grips the reader with force and emotion. Some of the characteristics of Mark's style reveal his message. The story moves quickly. Jesus moves rapidly from place to place; there is little wasted motion and a minimum of verbiage.

Our examination shows how Mark's Gospel relates to our theme. First, this emphasis on suffering pervades the gospel. Mark's theology is a theology of the cross. Mark's Jesus is ...

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