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learn about the gospel of mark with tom smith

Story and photo by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

Mark, considered the first Gospel writer, will be discussed 9 a.m.-noon Jan. 24 and Feb. 7 at St. Stephen Parish in Caseyville.

Why Mark? Why now? Tom Smith, a “student” of Mark for many years, will explain as he leads discussions about not only the first Gospel but the shortest of the four.
During this Church year, called Year B, the Gospel of Mark will be read during weekend liturgies.

The main theme of Mark’s whole Gospel, Smith said, is the identity of Jesus.

“Mark raised one question: Who is Jesus?” Smith said. “He answers it in two ways: Jesus is Messiah, and Jesus is son of God.”
So, Smith’s first session will explore the idea of Jesus as Messiah through the first half of Mark’s Gospel, and the second session, through the second half, Jesus as son of God.

Smith, who has studied the Gospel of Mark for many years, said he was drawn to study Mark because it was written for a Gentile audience. That would include all of us, he said.

During his presentation, Smith said he asks three questions: “What is going on here? Where did this message come from, i.e., the background themes in the Gospel? What does this have to do with us?”
Smith calls the third question the “so what” portion of his presentation. In other words, what does this mean in the everyday lives of 21st century Christian Catholics?

Although Mark’s Gospel is not lengthy, Smith said themes do surface that “you can see clearly if you look at it.”
The two presentations will be separated by the Gospel itself with the first presentation covering chapters one through eight, verse 30 and the second presentation covering the rest of the Gospel.

Smith’s long association with the Gospel began when he was a teacher at the former Assumption High School in East St. Louis.

“I wanted to teach serious Scripture, but there was not much available in the summer of 1971.”
He spent six weeks researching the Gospel using the Jerome Biblical Commentary.
Later, he wrote and published a book on the Gospel, his first, he said.

“I love doing this,” he said. “I learn from the students (no matter what their age), especially in the application process.”
Sponsored by the diocesan Office of Worship, cost for each presentation is $7.50 and includes a continental breakfast. Register for both for $12.00. To register, please call 235-9601, ext. 110 or go to www. officeofworship.catholicweb.com.