Feast of Saint Mark, evangelist
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April 25, 2020Those who believe will speak new languages, the Gospel states. What is this new language? It is a language of forgiveness, often not practiced. Paul and Mark had a disagreement and Mark decided he could not travel and preach with Paul, so they split and went different ways.
Paul even say to Mark that he is unfit. Paul says this not because he was being mean and stubborn, but because it was a chance for Mark to mature. He was young and he wanted Mark to realize commitment and responsibility. Later on, Paul asks for Mark to rejoin him and says he can be of service. This gave Mark a chance to think about their whole relationship and forgive Paul and also gave Mark a chance to become a more mature and responsible person.
Mark had to look past his hurt and realize Paul did this for his own good and the good of those he was to spread the Gospel to. Mark learned and grew up. The two reunite and Mark then becomes the author of the Gospel of Mark and the first Bishop of Alexandria in Egypt. Mark forgave Paul and more importantly reflected on why Paul was harsh. This helped him grow. If he did not, would we have the Gospel of Mark? Would Christianity have reached Alexandria?
Thinking about this we can say forgiveness is a new language, or at least a different language? We know how people act or react when hurt or angry. Living forgiveness is the opposite, it is love. Love transforms.
Mark learned this different language as the Gospel speaks about and changed his life as well as affecting the lives of many hundreds of thousands of people who have learned from him. Imagine what we can do and accomplish, when we forgive.
