Religion and Theology - Essay Example

Conquistadors al Affiliation) Religion and Theology Historical context and setting of the passage In Mark13:32-37,Mark gathers together a group of Jesus sayings and a short illustrative parable on the subject of watchfulness. Scholars argue that this passage was written in Rome. At this period of time, Christians were undergoing persecution and therefore, Mark had to gather these parables and sayings of Jesus so as to encourage these Christians. The historical setting of the passage is a mountaintop, which is mount Olive, situated just outside the temple in Jerusalem. Characters in the passage, their function and relationship Characters in the passage are Jesus and the disciples. According to this extract, Jesus is revealing the end times to His disciples, he employs the parable of a man who leaves the country and goes to a far land leaving his servants to guard the house1. His return time is however unknown and therefore, the servants must watch lest they are caught up unaware when the master returns. Through this, the purpose and function of Jesus is clearly to make the disciples guard their faith as they await the coming of Jesus. The disciples on the other hand, represent born again people who are in the journey of salvation. In addition to that, God is also a character in this passage2. Mark records in verse 32 “But of that day, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the son, but the father.” The ‘father’ is God and he plays the role of defining time. According to this text, no one knows the hour except Him alone. Issues addressed in the passage and its intention Mark was addressing the issue of watchfulness in light of the coming of the end of times. Through repetition of and use of keywords like “watch”, “watch and pray”, “doorkeeper”, it is clear that Christians of that time hard almost lost hope due to persecution that was ongoing. Mark had written this text to remind people, especially the Christians, of their obligation of keeping safeguarding their faith. As mentioned above, the writer expects his audience to watch and pray, verse 33, as they wait for the unknown hour, verse 353. Literary context of the passage Before this extract, the author had reflected on destruction of Jerusalem, signs of the end of times, the great tribulation, the coming of the son of man and the parable of the fig trees. All these were interconnected and related in the sense that they all linked to prophecies concerting the end of the world. This text therefore appropriately fits into the section as it concludes by the chapter by warning people who do not guard their faith. Fitting of the passage with the liturgical cycle and the season The beginning of a new liturgical year, which includes the first Sunday of the Advent, symbolizes the shift from one lectionary cycle (A, B or C) to another. In the year B (2012, 2015 etc.), in Catholic Church’s lectionary of bible reading for Mass, gospel according to Mark is highly featured. Cycle B resources therefore are from the book of Mark and proofs why Mark 13:32-37, fits with the liturgical cycle and season of advent. Thematic relationship with 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 and Isaiah 64:1-9 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 talks about the ability and grace that born again Christian have been given by Jesus so that they can stand firm and await for the second coming of Jesus. In Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19, the psalmist is seen to have wandered far away. As a result, he prays to God for restoration, 80:3, 19, “Restore us oh God: make your face shine on us, that we may be saved”, so that they may be saved and be prepared for the second coming of Jesus. Finally, Isaiah 64:1-9 is a repentance prayer meant to draw one back into the presence of God. Mark 13:32-37 relates with the aforementioned passages in the sense that it advocates for being watchful and waiting for the second coming of Jesus. Mark urges Christians to pray as prayer brings restoration, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 and draws one back into the presence of God, Isaiah 64:1-9, if one had fallen away. Finally, there is hope unto them who keep watch for Jesus has already given the power and grace, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, to do so. Genre of the passage The passage being a narrative uses a parable of a man who leaves his house under the care of servants and a doorkeeper and journey to an unknown land. Through this parable, Mark effectively conveys the message of being watchful at all times. This narrative ends with a climax with mark intensively urging people to be prepared for the unknown coming of Jesus. The use of exclamation mark on the word “watch”, verse 37, shows a change of tone to serious one, confirming climax of the narrative. Literary qualities in the passage Mark has used several literary qualities to bring his message home. The passage is rich in repetition. The words “watch” and “know” are repeated severally in the passage, verse 33, 35 and 37. This emphasizes the point that the expected events are uncertain since no one knows about them. As a result, one should take into account the importance of consistent preparedness as they wait for the coming of Jesus4. In verse 34, Mark uses a simile of a man leaving his home under the custodian of servants and a doorkeeper. The man symbolizes Jesus, the far country, heaven and the servants and doorkeeper, the saints. Through this technique, Mark creates a clear mental picture or real things that his audience can associate with to aid them grasp the concept well. From the beginning of the passage till the end of it, Mark uses a warning tone. He warns his audience of the unknown coming of Jesus, verse 35, “Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning5.” There are no markers in the passage to symbolize distinctions in social status or gender, Mark’s passage is to everyone, verse 37, “And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” Religious / theological message intended by the author The theological and religious message the Mark want to pass to people is that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven to prepare a place for those whom He left on earth. Christians are encouraged to keep watching. Note here, Mark uses “keep”, a present continuous word to mean that the responsibility of guarding the faith that Jesus left with Christians, is a day to day responsibility. Christians are urged not to sit and wonder about which season Jesus will come for no one, even Jesus himself, knows the time. It is only God, the father in heaven, verse 32, “But of that day and hour, no one knows, not even the angles in heaven, nor even the son, but only the father.” This does not mean that the Christians should leave in fear, but they should have hopes in Jesus6. In order to attain this faith that Jesus is always there for them and have the assurance that He will one day come to pick them, comes by constant prayer, verse 33, “Take heed, watch and pray…” This theological message has been conveyed symbolically in this extract. Symbolically, Jesus is represented as the “the owner of the house” and has entrusted the “house” to the saints on the earth. Level of meaning of the passage Debates on this text have led people to interpret the passage in different ways and this has resulted in two levels of meaning from the passage. The first level of meaning, which the author intended, is that Jesus went to heaven to prepare a place for people who will hold on to the faith until the end and people who will be watchful at the time Jesus returns. On the other hand, some scholars argues that, the passage shows that Jesus was to go to heaven to find the time the world will end and not necessarily to prepare a place. In verse 32, Mark quotes Jesus saying that no one, even Jesus Himself knows the hour, meaning that Jesus had limited understanding as a man and while he was still on earth. His ascension to heaven was a reason to go and find out when the world will end. His return on earth would therefore be to confirm to people the time7. Reaction of original readers towards the passage and Conclusion The original readers would change their ways, stop fearing and maintain their walk to maintain their faith and keep watch. It is good to understand that at that time, when the passage was wrote, Jesus had recently ascended to heaven and therefore, the message would have had great impact. Departure of Jesus raised many questions to them who didn’t believe and such a message would have opened their eyes and change those who had not yet received Jesus Christ. Insight from the passage is that Jesus is coming soon. Preservation of faith is the only thing that will enable a Christian be saved when Jesus comes. References Adam, Adolf. The Liturgical Year. Its History and Its Meaning after the Reform of the Liturgy. Trans.Matthew J. OConnell. New York: Pueblo, 1981, pp. 1 Brown, R.E. Christ in the Gospels of the Ordinary Sundays: Essays on the Gospel Readings of the Ordinary Sundays in the Three-Year Liturgical Cycle. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1998, pp. 98–112. Bradshaw, Paul F. and Maxwell E. Johnson. The Origins of Feasts, Fasts, and Seasons in Early Christianity. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 2011, pp. 132–135 Buchinger, Harald. On the Origin and Development of the Liturgical Year: Tendencies, Results, and Desiderata of Heortological Research. Studia Liturgica 40: 12 (2010), 1445. Johnson, Maxwell E. ed. Between Memory and Hope: Readings on the Liturgical Year. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2000, pp. 323–330. Moloney, F.J A Year with Mark. Reading a Sunday Gospel. Year B. Strathfield: St Paul Publications, 201, pp. 474–504. Pfatteicher, P.H. Journey into the Heart of God: Living the Liturgical Year. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013, pp. 104–106. Power, David Noel. The word of the Lord: Liturgy’s Use of scriptures. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbits Books, 2001, pp. 33–39. Read More