Comments : The Gospel of Mark bears many characteristics of its author, among them an emphasis on Jesus' later life and his identity as Son of Man and Messiah. Because Mark himself figures a great deal into our understanding of his gospel, I chose to open this series of commentary with an image of the gospeller himself. [Tip: Right-click on the image, select "Open Link in a New Window" and click on the image in the new window. This will provide you with an enlarged version of this art, courtesy of St Mark's Roman Catholic Church, Cranston, Rhode Island.]

The art seen in the image to your left depicts St Mark, the Evangelist, seated formally on a distinguished chair that looks a great deal like a throne. The medium is contemporary stained glassd, possibly American, from the mid 1970s.

In this window the facial features of Mark the Evangelist are strong and clear. In his left hand he holds the scroll of his gospel, and he points to it with his right hand. His golden monogram inscribes the scroll. Symbols of Mark's writing appear to his left. Can you locate them?

A circular and gilded nimbus encircles Mark's head, to indicate his sainthood. Intersecting the nimbus at its topmost arc is a multi-colored orb descending from the sky, a symbol of Mark's inspiration from God. At either side of the Evangelist's head are two roundels, each illustrating a portion of Mark's gospel (the young man in the linen sheath) that are considerd by some to refer not to Jesus but to Mark himself.

The winged lion, also with a gilded nimbus, that appears to the right of Mark's feet is his iconographic symbol. As you read the Gospel of Mark you might come upon his reference to the lion. Who does he mention and what are they doing that is 'like a lion'? The roundel nearest Mark's feet points to his appearance in the gospel. Why is that odd?

The two illustrated roundels are fill in the lower portion of this window dedicate it as a lasting memorial for the people of St Mark's Cranston.

-Mel Ahlborn

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