Saint Mark the Evangelist

The Collect
Almighty God, by the hand of Mark the evangelist you have given to your Church the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God: We thank you for this witness, and pray that we may be firmly grounded in its truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Psalm
2

The Readings
Isaiah 52:7-10      +      Ephesians 4:7-16      +      Mark 1:1-15

But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.
~Ephesians 4:15-16

"Speaking the truth in love" is a scriptural phrase that I have heard many times. Often, it is invoked in order to justify a pronouncement against some perceived sin or error--as in, "I am going to tell you the truth about how you are wrong--because I love you." There is such a thing as tough love. But there is also such a thing as passing judgment and easily tacking on "love" as the motivation, regardless of how harsh or  prejudiced the judgment. 

In his book, Where God Happens, a series of reflections on the Desert Fathers and Mothers, Rowan Williams talks about "speaking the truth in love" with Christian integrity, as being not a cheap mask for asserting opinions--but also not simply speaking the nice, easy word that glosses things over.

(It) doesn't mean charitably telling other people exactly where they've gone wrong. It means finding a way to speak to them that resonates with the creative word working in their depths . . . Sometimes this means that what at first looks like the "loving" response won't quite do--and the desert literature shows some keen awareness of this at times. A certain degree of hesitation in our willingness to offer the first kind of help that comes to our minds is no bad thing if it means that we end up attending to the reality of someone else, rather than the pressure that comes from wanting to make myself feel better . . . we "hesitate" as we might do on the threshold of some new territory, some unexplored interior. It is an aspect of our reverence for each other.

In the space that a patient, mutual reverence can provide, we may perceive the measure of Christ's gift in those around us. Whether apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, or administrators, encouragers, servers, professionals, nurturers, innovators, or any other giftedness--the Spirit gives to the church to equip the saints for the work of ministry. Our task is both to exercise the gifts given to us, and to watch and listen for the gifts of others, the word that the Spirit has placed within them. In such sharing and trusting, the truth is spoken in love, to the end that all of us might come to the measure of the full stature of Christ.


Closing Prayer
Lord God, give us wisdom, that we might be bold in truthfully sharing the gifts you have given us, and patient in gratefully receiving the gifts you have given to others; for the sake of the body of your Son, even our head Jesus Christ, in whose Name we pray. Amen.

The Annunciation of Our Lord Jesus Christ to the Blessed Virgin Mary

(transferred from March 25)

The Collect
Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord, that we who have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may by his cross and passion be brought to the glory of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

The Psalm
40:5-11
or
Canticle 15 (Magnificat)

The Readings
Isaiah 7:10-14     +     Hebrews 10:4-10     +     Luke 1:26-38

The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus."
~Luke 1:30-31


This is a feast of the Incarnation. And it might seem fitting to simply call it that, or perhaps the feast of the Conception. But this major feast is, and for centuries has been, called by this title: Annunciation. The great miracle of the event itself is, in the title, overshadowed by its announcement.  Gabriel speaks to Mary in the future tense about that which is yet to happen.

It is a remarkable scene, at once both a window into the eternal and a window into the homely everyday. Small wonder it has inspired countless artists, this exchange of words between a divine messenger and a young woman. No matter how many times we have heard it, the announcement can still strike us as perplexing. How can this be? And why? Is this necessary? Such ponderings are part of the life of faith, just as surely as the divine patience that entertains them, and the divine assurance that bids us look to the future in trust; for nothing will be impossible with God.

Closing Prayer

All praise and thanks to you, most gracious Lord, for the wonder of our redemption. We thank you for your favored servant, Mary, ever-blessed. We pray that we, following her example, may look forward in hope as we step into our part in the unfolding of your salvation. For you are sovereign, good Lord, and to you be all glory, now and to the ages. Amen.