ST. MARK THE EVANGELIST

April 25, 2010

St. Augustine Anglican Church

“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.”

The Rev. Gerald Parks +

          Unlike most of the followers of Jesus in the first century, the identity of St. Mark is known, commonly accepted to have been that of John Mark, the person mentioned in the Book of Acts (23:25, 13:5) who accompanied St. Paul and St. Barnabas on their first missionary journey, and who, after a misunderstanding with Paul, traveled exclusively with Barnabas.  Early second-century tradition credited him with being St. Peter’s interpreter in Rome, and the author of the Second Gospel, written after the Apostle’s martyrdom on the basis of Mark’s reminiscences of Peter’s preaching.  Traditionally too, he is credited as having founded the Church in Egypt, and dying there.

          If all of that is true, or even if only part of it is, St. Mark was truly a committed and busy man, “bearing much fruit” in the Lord’s service.  This commitment to serve in the Lord’s cause was a common trait of the early Christians, shared equally by the Twelve Apostles and the other disciples too, often at the risk of their safety as well as their financial and social well-being.  “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” (Mark 8:34-35), St. Mark wrote of our Lord’s words, and he, as well as all the others certainly lived by that wisdom.  Would that that were still true today, but often it is not.

          We know that in parts of the Middle East and in parts of Africa, as well as some other places not so well known, being a Christian can be a difficult and dangerous choice, the only option often given to them, convert or die.  But most Christians in the world face no such challenge to their faith.  They are free to pick and choose what they believe, and to gather in worship without coercion of any kind.  As with all things that are easily and freely given, though, religion without the need for sacrifice or urgency, soon becomes undervalued by its followers.  It is taken for granted and becomes dependable and comfortable, and soon after that it can become optional, something we do on special occasions when we feel like it, but only then.  Usually, at that point, faith and the commitment it requires is the farthest thing from our minds.

          It is difficult to imagine that such lightly held and insignificant faith can bear much “fruit,” except perhaps in an indirect way.  It often becomes confused with social change or political action, promoting not so much the will of God, but the narrow deceits of willful and ambitious men.  In the very broadest sense, we may call such a thing religion, but it is without a sincere faith, and the “fruit” it bears honors man, not God, because it is not about God.  It is, rather, about wrapping oneself in the name of God to gain personal advantage, without actually serving Him or worshipping Him.  It is also a refuge of hypocrites and scoundrels who pretend to have faith, but really have none.

          The reason such things are so frustrating is because of the example given to us by the Holy Saints of God, the Apostles and Evangelists and all the company of Heaven, the very one they first received from the example of Christ Jesus.  Our Lord’s example was about giving, not getting; about service and sacrifice, not manipulation of the faith for the acquisition of personal advantage and position.  Jesus said, “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5)  

          A dry and withered branch, one that has become separated from its source, bears no fruit and is fit only for the fire, where it will be consumed and forgotten.  The same is true of us: our life has meaning and promise only so long as we abide in the love of God. We cannot of ourselves bear “fruit” or any good thing, and unless our faith is rooted in service and sacrifice, and joined to Jesus who is the “true vine,” then we are become dry and withered, and without hope.

          We may spend all of our lives searching for that one thing that will mean something to us, and not find it – many have.  We may become titans of industry, and wealthy beyond our wildest imaginings; we may make great breakthroughs in medicine, science or technology; we may have it within our power to influence Presidents and Kings.  We may do all these things and still wonder at our lack of that one thing that matters.  These “fruits” of our labors, as amazing and wonderful as they may be, can leave us feeling empty and alone:  they do not satisfy, and their taste, while rich and delicious, can in no way relieve our souls of wanting something more.

          People like St. Mark understood, as we all should, that nothing we do in this world can amount to anything if we do not first come into the knowledge and love of God.  Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” (John 15:1)  He is the source of our life and our being, and without Him everything we have and do is as nothing.  The secret to life is really no great secret at all: that one really big important thing we need and are searching for is freely given to us in Jesus Christ, who said, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” (John 15:8)