On Monday, April 25th, we commemorate the feast day of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark of the land of Egypt who was martyred. He the author of the Gospel of Mark, the companion of the Apostle Paul (as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles), and is numbered among the Seventy Apostles. He is often referred to as John Mark, and is the founder of the Church of Alexandria, being regarded as its first pope. His symbol as one of the four evangelists is a lion.
The Gospel reading for his feast is Mark 6: 7-13, in which Jesus sends His disciples out and to carry only what they need, and instead carry the good news of Jesus. The Gospel is as follows: “7He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff: no bread, no bag, no money in their belts, 9but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13They cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.” (from Sacred Space).
