St. Mark’s Gospel is known as “the one that begins with a roar.”
The other gospels begin quietly: a genealogy, a tale of a barren woman and her husband, a sublime introduction to the Word…
Not so St. Mark. Instead, St. John the Baptist leaps out of the first paragraph, crying, “Prepare the way of the Lord! Come and seek baptism in repentance, that your sins may be forgiven!”
Immediately after John, Jesus Christ appears. St. Mark does not call Jesus the “Son of Man”; he immediately tells us that Jesus is the “Son of God.”
St. Mark the Evangelist by Emmanuel Tzanes
Throughout his account, St. Mark focuses on Jesus’ divine power and mission. He relates countless miracles of healing. He tells of harrowing exorcisms, when the expelled demons scream that here is God’s Holy One. He tells us of Jesus’ power over creation, walking on water and calming storms. He recounts Jesus’ preaching in words that reveal His divine authority and kingship.
St. Mark wants us to know very clearly that Jesus is the long-expected Messiah, the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah.” He carries on John’s work of announcing the Lord’s coming and the need for repentance so that we can receive Him properly.
The lion has represented kingship since time immemorial due to its strength and ferocity, its fearlessness and golden majesty. This beast portrays St. Mark’s Gospel because the account emphasizes the kingship and power of Jesus, the Messiah, and don’t forget the fierce cries of St. John the Baptist.
the Church has always placed reminders of these truths into the fabric of daily life. Not only in Scripture, but in art, in architecture, in the small details that we return to again and again. Even something as simple as light passing through stained glass has been used for centuries to draw the mind back to God.
Chartres Cathedral is one of the most striking examples of this. Its stained glass windows, some over 800 years old, were designed not simply to decorate, but to teach and to elevate. They tell the story of salvation in color and light, drawing the eye upward and beyond.
The Chartres Cathedral Stained Glass Windows Candle is a richly designed candle inspired by the famous Chartres windows, bringing light, color, and a sense of prayerful stillness into the home. Find yours today at The Catholic Company!
