Meeting St. Mark Today: Understanding the Man, His Mission, and His Message

by Daniel J. Harrington

A clear, concise, and respectful presentation of Mark’s Gospel—and what Jesus’ suffering means for us Daniel J. Harrington, SJ, is well known for his superb New Testament scholarship, but he is also highly regarded for his exceptional ability to bridge the gap between modern biblical scholarship and authentic Christian spirituality. In Meeting St. Mark Today , the final book in this series on the Gospels, Harrington
has provided another straightforward, practical resource for lay Catholics who want a better understanding of this
synoptic Gospel.
The book begins with background information on the Evangelist and his Gospel. It moves quickly into a concise but complete narrative analysis of the Gospel, which clearly demonstrates the human side of Jesus. Part Three of the book explains how Mark’s Gospel provides answers to two essential What did Jesus suffer?, and Why did Jesus suffer? It also proposes answers to the universal question, Why do people suffer? The book’s final section includes five meditations on suffering, based on lectionary readings from Year B (St. Mark) in the Sunday lectionary cycle.
Each chapter concludes with questions for reflection and discussion, making Meeting St. Mark Today an ideal resource for individual Scripture study or group Bible study. The readings from Mark’s Gospel for all Sundays and Feasts in Cycle B are listed at the end of the book.
Ultimately, Meeting St. Mark Today opens the theological treasure chest of this easily overlooked Gospel, enabling us to see how Jesus’ suffering and the mystery of the cross can reshape our faith and our lives.

Genres: Theology

144 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2011

About the author

Rev. Father Daniel J. Harrington, SJ, was a professor of New Testament studies and chairman of Biblical Studies at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry. He received a PhD in biblical languages and literatures from Harvard University. A past president of the Catholic Biblical Association, he wrote more than two dozen books about the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Reviews

[Cathryn Conroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Making the Bible understandable is a real calling, and the late Daniel J. Harrington, a Roman Catholic priest, prolific writer, and professor of the New Testament at Boston College's School of Theology and Ministry, definitely had that gift.

This book is one of five that gives a summary overview with a wee bit of interpretation to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the epistles of St. Paul. The books are short and to the point, and they are ideal to be read accompanied by the appropriate text in the New Testament.

After an introduction, the central piece of the book is a succinct chapter-by-chapter summary of Mark, including a narrative analysis with attention to characters, their interactions, the plot, story structure, and the viewpoint of the narrator. The special charm of this book is that you will better understand the Gospel of Mark and no doubt come away with little bits of information you never knew.

Mark's Gospel is thought to be the earliest of the four canonically approved Gospels, and compared to the other three it can be a bit stark with its primary focus on Jesus's passion and death. I had never thought of it this way, but Harrington describes it as a passion narrative with a long introduction, and that makes so much sense to me. For this reason, Mark's Gospel has been called the Gospel of Suffering.

And here is the gem of this short book: The last section delves into why the Gospel of Mark is known as the Gospel of Suffering, exploring not only what Jesus suffered, but also why he suffered.

Bonus: Harrington acknowledges in a way few Roman Catholic priests do the important role of the women who followed Jesus, especially Mary Magdalene.