Scholars suggest that the original and stark end of Mark’s Gospel was with the women visiting the tomb, hearing the words of the young man, and fleeing, frightened out of their wits, and silent, because they were afraid.
The verses that now follow seem likely to have been added by others who found the absence of testimony to the preaching of the Resurrection unacceptable.
Yet the Gospel of Mark itself breaks the silence, and the community gathered to hear it has heard the Good News. Their challenge is that under persecution and challenge they have fallen silent, even have denied the Lord themselves.
We have the Gospel in its present form… it speaks of the recovery of faith. Still the question is posed, do we who hear it have the courage to confess the Lord and profess our faith in his Resurrection.
From The Jerusalem Bible © 1966 by Darton Longman & Todd Ltd and Doubleday and Company Ltd.
St Mark. Marseille Cathedral. (c) 2013, Allen Morris.
Prayer from the Catholic Tradition 