Portraits of Christ VII
- Jul 23
- 2 min read
An Introduction to the Four Gospels for Critical Minds & Contemplative Hearts
A Five-Week Online Bible Study & Lecture Series with Father Vincent
In this final semester of our “Portraits of Christ” series, Fr. Vincent will bring our extended study of Mark’s gospel to its dramatic conclusion as we delve into an in-depth study of Mark 14-16, the earliest account of Christ’s passion in the New Testament. Written as one continuous narrative, Mark’s account of Christ’s passion and death is rich with theology and literary ‘brush strokes’ unique to Mark’s portrait of Christ as the “Suffering Servant.” As we will see, it is precisely in his moment of death, the moment the Eternal Word is silenced, that Jesus is at last recognized, indeed proclaimed, “Son of God” (Mk. 15:39). Together we will explore the fateful moments leading up to the death of Christ, and to the enigmatic way in which Mark leaves us not so much with the 'Hollywood ending' of resurrection but with the stark, indeed terrify, confrontation with an empty tomb. We will meditate with Hans Urs von Balthasar, how the Eternal Word becomes, in the very moment of death, the“Unword” (German: Un-Wort), in a self-emptying of the flesh that surpasses all language and defies all theo-logic. For Mark, the silence of the Cross becomes God’s greatest revelation in Christ.
A fitting end to an enigmatic text, this semester will conclude our exploration of Mark’s gospel as one that is as rich as it is compelling, full of hidden mysteries, messianic secrets, and wisdom teachings that reveal far more theological depth than its brusque simplicity would suggest. This intimate analysis of Mark’s Passion Narrative will explore its verses in fine detail through the interpretive tools of modern exegesis, as we plumb its ancient message for the modern church. Especially designed for contemplatives, this last in our series of classes is designed to aid the Christian in the practice of Lectio Divina on Mark’s gospel, in ways that ground the life and practice of contemplative Christians today.
