Being the first book of the New Testament to be written, Mark is often looked at with great reverence. Sister Carol Perry, of Marble Collegiate Church, N.Y., focused her evening workshop on the Gospel of Mark at Holy Family Retreat Center, Beaumont, June 8.
Sister Perry began by discussing the Gospel of Mark and how it can relate to modern Christians.
“Mark is the perfect book for people of the 21st century. It covers the important events in the life of Jesus first and then goes back to explain some of the other details. Mark is always in a rush and it comes out a lot in the language of the book,” Sister Perry said.
She also spoke about the importance Mark placed on the teachings of Jesus and what he was trying to convey to early Christians.
“One of the things Jesus expressed again and again was that everyone was welcome at his table. He radically redefined the notion of the traditional family. His family included tax collectors, prostitutes. He was trying to teach us something,” Sister Perry said.
Sister Perry elaborated on this by discussing the “Our Father” and how the prayer is meant to be a welcoming invitation for everyone.
“When we start the prayer we say ‘Our Father’ not ‘My Father.’ We come into the prayer as members of the same family. It’s a prayer for everyone. We are invited to see everyone who says it as family,” Sister Perry said.
