Sunday before Theophany; Octoechos Tone 7; Our Holy Father Sylvester, Pope of Rome (335)
2 Timothy 4:5-8; Mark 1:1-8
Read Mark 1:1-8
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
We are reading the beginning of the Gospel of Mark. The first verse says: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” It is the shortest of the four gospels (only 16 chapters) and probably the easiest to read. When someone has never read the Bible and asks me where they should start, I often recommend the Gospel of Mark.
You may have noticed that in iconography each of the 4 Gospel writers has a symbol-picture associated with him. Mark has a lion portrayed next to him. Why? Because the lion reminds us of the beginning of the Gospel of Mark about one, John the Baptist, crying in the wilderness. The lion may remind us of the wilderness. But the lion may also remind us of John the Baptist, himself, who cannot be tamed by any authorities. He rules in the wilderness.