Good morning, Friends,
I so enjoyed going through Matthew with you and am looking forward to continuing on with our Reflections. In thinking about this, I wasn’t sure where to go next. I had planned for myself, before I started the reflections back up, to just start reading “A New New Testament” from the beginning straight through. I just wanted to read it all in context with one another. I wasn’t sure this was the right way to do it, as there is a reading guide which is totally different but at the time this felt right. It wasn’t until Matthew that I felt like I should share my reflections with you all. In this compilation, Matthew isn’t the first book, The Gospel of Thomas is, which as I read it, felt very disjointed. It was hard to read, let alone to have thoughts and reflections on. But as I started Matthew, I was called back to you, and sharing with you again.
I thought of going back to Thomas when we finished Matthew, but Mark seemed to call to me instead. I started by reading the Introduction, which was so very interesting, and as I fell asleep that night, I was excited to get started again!
So, here we are. Next week, we will begin again, in Mark. I wanted to start here, with this email because I want us all reading through the same lens.
So, let’s talk a little about the introduction to get us all on the same page. Maybe you’ll even get a little excited too!
The introduction tell us that Mark is usually thought to be the first gospel story but that most likely the Gospels of Thomas and Peter may have preceded it. (I hope to eventually get to both of those in our reflections.) It tells us that the name Mark, was placed on it later and that the author is really anonymous to us. We also aren’t really sure where it was written or for whom but was often thought Rome but more recently some are pointing more towards Syria or Galilee.
“Mark is composed with much subtlety, careful sequencing, and powerful meaning.”
That right there got me! Drew me in, excited to discover the powerful meanings throughout.
The introduction talks about the pain and drama that fills Mark. The people who suffer from all sorts of ailments and the healing that Jesus performs. It shares about the enemies that seem to follow Jesus and leads to his predicting his own death.
It talks about the secrecy surrounding Jesus. His telling those he heals and sometimes his disciples too not to tell anyone. Even in his baptism, the voice from the heavens only speaks to Jesus.
I find it all so interesting and I’m looking forward to diving in! I hope you are too! I hope to begin on Sunday, if all goes well. I will definitely be starting soon!
I’m looking so forward to sharing this time with you!
Until next time…♥️
P.S. If you’re longing for a quieter, shared space of reflection, I’ve created a small monthly circle. You can learn more here.
👉🏻 https://simply-sherri.com/the-quiet-path-reflection-circle/
Simply Sherri 
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