The way St. Mark tells the story of Jesus conveys a sense of urgency. Chapter One starts off with John the Baptist preaching about the “coming one.” Jesus is baptized by John, goes out to be tested in the desert and After John had been arrested, Jesus came proclaiming the Gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” To the message of repentance because of the inbreaking of God which Jesus had learned from his mentor, John the Baptist, he addED his own emphasis that this is “gospel,” which is to say “good news.” What it would be like if all preachers presented every sermon as conveying good news?
