THE ROSARY IS THE COMPENDIUM OF THE GOSPEL, SEASON IV, PART 11

"MISUNDERSTOOD AND PERSECUTED"

Part 10 concluded with a question. The preamble reads: Mary's singular role is further highlighted by the presence of four other women in the genealogy of Jesus. What are their names?

Their names are Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. Each had a special place in the line which led to Jesus. They point to Mary as Mother of the Messiah.

Today, we shall look briefly at the Gospel of Mark and it's message on the Mother of God, dubbed "Misunderstood and Persecuted". 

The Gospel writer of Mark wrote for Christians who faced misunderstanding and persecution. He chose to paint a portrait of Christ as one who was misunderstood and persecuted, thereby helping his audience to identity Christ. The colours he used to paint such a picture were applied even to Mary.

Mary appears in the gospel with relatives of Jesus who are called his Brothers and Sisters example, James, Joseph, Simon and Judas.

By the time the relatives of Jesus appeared on the scene in Mark, Jesus has been teaching for some time. He has been grieve by misunderstood on the part of most of his hearers and by opposition from various Jewish factions.

Mark clearly wanted to present the relatives of Jesus as an other group of people who misunderstood him. Mark wished to state that the real family of Jesus is made up of those who do God's will. 

He does not name Mary  among those who said that Jesus was out of his mind (3:21). He merely includes her among the relatives who wanted to see Jesus. But Mark places her outside with those relatives, contrasting them with the disciples around Jesus.

Mary is mentioned again by name in chapter 6:2-3, where Jesus returned to his native place to teach in the synagogue. The reaction he gets from his hearers is understanding and resentment. 

Will you also leave because you are misunderstood and persecuted for doing what's right and true?

To Be Continued...

Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us!🙏🏽

# Ave_Maria

#Grace_Abounds💫

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