Tuesday, January 14: “Blatant Immediacy”

Mark 1: 15: “[Jesus said], ‘The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.’”

St. Mark tells us nothing concerning the Nativity. He describes the ministry of John the Baptist in a mere six verses, whereas other Gospel writers employ entire chapters. What Mark does tell us, “immediately,” (a word he uses seventeen times) is the Good News of the Gospel of God (v. 14)---that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Only in this Gospel are these the first words to come out of Jesus’ mouth. Then, for the next 15 ½ chapters, he tells us what that entails.