Year of the Bible
Mark 1
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Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Mark, Chapter 1:
St. Mark the Evangelist begins his Gospel with as bold and direct an opening line of anyone! He declares that this is a “gospel,” a joyful proclamation (vs. 1). In Greco-Roman culture a “gospel” would be the oral announcement of a ruler’s military victory or a birth or marriage in a royal family. What Mark will go on to tell us is indeed an announcement of a victorious, warrior-king of importance beyond any earthly ruler. This Kingdom of God is happening now (vs. 15). God’s actions have an urgency and are unfolding “immediately” (vs. 10, 12, 18, 20, 23, 29, 30, 42)--a word used 11 times by Mark in the original Greek text of this chapter. Follow Mark to experience this dramatic victory Jesus is unfolding before our eyes!
The Gospel According to St. Mark, Chapter 1:
The Preaching of John the Baptist
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who shall prepare your way;
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight—”
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather belt around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism of Jesus
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; 11 and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
The Temptation of Jesus
12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him.
Jesus Preaches the Gospel in Galilee
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
16 And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him.
The Man with an Unclean Spirit
21 And they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; 24 and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
Healings at Simon’s House
29 And immediately he left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them.
32 That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together about the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
Jesus Preaches and Heals throughout Galilee
35 And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him followed him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Every one is searching for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
40 And a leper came to him begging him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
From the opening line, The Gospel of Mark boldly proclaims that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God. Ask the Lord to embolden you to proclaim Him with the same confidence.
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan, an adult faith formation apostolate. cbsmich.org/join
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further
Marcos 1
1 Comienzo del Evangelio de Jesucristo,
Hijo de Dios. 2 Como está escrito en el
profeta Isaías:
Mira que envío a mi mensajero delante
de ti,
para que vaya preparando tu camino.
3 Voz del que clama en el desierto:
«Preparad el camino del Señor,
haced rectas sus sendas».
4 Apareció Juan Bautista en el desierto
predicando un bautismo de penitencia
para remisión de los pecados.
5 Y toda la región de Judea y todos los
habitantes de Jerusalén acudían a él y
eran bautizados por él en el río Jordán,
confesando sus pecados. 6 Juan llevaba
un vestido de pelo de camello con
un ceñidor de cuero a la cintura y comía
langostas y miel silvestre. 7 Y predicaba:
–Después de mí viene el que es más
poderoso que yo, ante quien yo no soy
digno de inclinarme para desatarle la
correa de las sandalias. 8 Yo os he bautizado
en agua, pero él os bautizará en el
Espíritu Santo.
9 Y sucedió que en aquellos días
vino Jesús desde Nazaret de Galilea,
y fue bautizado por Juan en el Jordán.
10 Y nada más salir del agua vio los cielos
abiertos y al Espíritu que, en forma
de paloma, descendía sobre él; 11 y se oyó
una voz desde los cielos:
–Tú eres mi Hijo, el amado, en ti me
he complacido.
12 Enseguida el Espíritu lo impulsó
hacia el desierto.
13 Y estuvo en el desierto cuarenta
días mientras era tentado por Satanás.
Estaba con los animales, y los ángeles le
servían.
14 Después de haber sido apresado
Juan, vino Jesús a Galilea predicando el
Evangelio de Dios, 15 y diciendo:
–El tiempo se ha cumplido y el Reino
de Dios está al llegar; convertíos y
creed en el Evangelio.
16 Y, mientras pasaba junto al mar de
Galilea, vio a Simón y a Andrés, el hermano
de Simón, que echaban las redes
en el mar, pues eran pescadores. 17 Y les
dijo Jesús:
–Seguidme y haré que seáis pescadores
de hombres.
18 Y, al momento, dejaron las redes y
le siguieron.
19 Y pasando un poco más adelante,
vio a Santiago el de Zebedeo y a Juan,
su hermano, que estaban en la barca remendando
las redes; 20 y enseguida los
llamó. Y dejaron a su padre Zebedeo en
la barca con los jornaleros y se fueron
tras él. 21 Entraron en Cafarnaún y, en cuanto
llegó el sábado, fue a la sinagoga y se
puso a enseñar. 22 Y se quedaron admirados
de su enseñanza, porque les enseñaba
como quien tiene potestad y no como los
escribas. 23 Se encontraba entonces en la sinagoga
un hombre poseído por un espíritu
impuro, 24 que comenzó a gritar:
–¿Qué tenemos que ver contigo, Jesús
Nazareno? ¿Has venido a perdernos?
¡Sé quién eres: el Santo de Dios!
25 Y Jesús le conminó:
–¡Cállate, y sal de él!
26 Entonces, el espíritu impuro, zarandeándolo
y dando una gran voz, salió de
él. 27 Y se quedaron todos estupefactos, de
modo que se preguntaban entre ellos:
–¿Qué es esto? Una enseñanza nueva
con potestad. Manda incluso a los espíritus
impuros y le obedecen.
28 Y su fama corrió pronto por todas
partes, en toda la región de Galilea.
29 En cuanto salieron de la sinagoga,
fueron a la casa de Simón y de Andrés,
con Santiago y Juan. 30 La suegra de Simón
estaba acostada con fiebre, y enseguida
le hablaron de ella. 31 Se acercó, la
tomó de la mano y la levantó; le desapareció
la fiebre y ella se puso a servirles.
32 Al atardecer, cuando se había
puesto el sol, comenzaron a llevarle a
todos los enfermos y a los endemoniados.
33 Y toda la ciudad se agolpaba en la
puerta. 34 Y curó a muchos que padecían
diversas enfermedades y expulsó a muchos
demonios, y no les permitía hablar
porque sabían quién era.
35 De madrugada, todavía muy oscuro,
se levantó, salió y se fue a un lugar
solitario, y allí hacía oración. 36 Salió
a buscarle Simón y los que estaban con
él, 37 y cuando lo encontraron le dijeron:
–Todos te buscan.
38 Y les dijo:
–Vámonos a otra parte, a las aldeas
vecinas, para que predique también allí,
porque para esto he venido.
39 Y pasó por toda Galilea predicando
en sus sinagogas y expulsando a los
demonios.
40 Y vino hacia él un leproso que, rogándole
de rodillas, le decía:
–Si quieres, puedes limpiarme.
41 Y, compadecido, extendió la mano,
le tocó y le dijo:
–Quiero, queda limpio.
42 Y al instante desapareció de él la
lepra y quedó limpio. 43 Enseguida le
conminó y le despidió. 44 Le dijo: –Mira, no digas nada a nadie; pero
anda, preséntate al sacerdote y lleva la
ofrenda que ordenó Moisés por tu curación,
para que les sirva de testimonio.
45 Sin embargo, en cuanto se fue, comenzó
a proclamar y a divulgar la noticia,
hasta el punto de que ya no podía
entrar abiertamente en ninguna ciudad,
sino que se quedaba fuera, en lugares
solitarios. Pero acudían a él de todas
partes.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
Desde la primera línea, el Evangelio de Marcos proclama claramente que Jesús es el Cristo y el Hijo de Dios. Pídele al Señor que te anime a proclamarlo con la misma confianza.
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).