The Gospel of Miracles

The Gospel of Mark is also called the Gospel of Miracles.  His purpose in writing it was to document everything Peter told him.  In this week’s readings, the thread throughout is miracles.  In the first reading, Isaiah is telling the people of God that Miracles will be a sign of God’s presence. in Chapter 35 verse 4 he says, “Say to the fearful of heart: Be strong, do not fear!”  and he goes on to describe, seven hundred years before it happens, the very things Jesus is doing in Mark’s Gospel.

 

It is important to notice not just what Jesus did, but also how Jesus performed the miracle on the deaf man.  In Mark 7:33-34, we read:  “He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, ‘Be Opened!’)”  The physical touching of the hands is the extension of the hand of God through Jesus. The old Baltimore Catechism defines a sacrament as an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace. in this Gospel reading, Jesus is showing the early Christians how this is done.  He is demonstrating not just miracles, but how to show through a sign that Jesus is God.

 

For more reading on the Gospel of Mark check this out: The Gospel of Mark
For more information on Traditions, Look here.