Volume 37 · p. 426
The Gospel according to Mark, page 426
EVANGELIUM SECUNDUM MARCUM.
Initium Evangelii, Jesu Christi, Filii Dei 1.
1. Domina Evangelistarum, Virgo Maria comparatur grano sinapis. Marc. IV, 31 et 32, de quo dicitur, quod minus est omnibus seminibus, et hoc per humilitatem: et cum seminatum fuerit, scilicet in mundo apparendo, ascendit in arborem, quae altitudine, amplitudine, annositate transcendit herbarum naturam. Alta est, quia ad caelestia attollitur: ampla, quia totum mundum occupat: annosa, quia non potest finiri. Haec tria sunt in arbore, scilicet Maria, quae est major gloria, et charitate omnibus oleribus, id est, Angelis, et hominibus, et facit ramos. Glossa: misericordiae, et compassionis, magnos, ita ut possint sub umbra protectionis ejus, aves caeli, id est, sancti Dei, imo et peccatores habitare, fiducialiter, propter securitatem: gaudenter, propter umbrositatem: utiliter, propter fructuositatem.
2. Item, Ipsa est cervical omnium virtutum, in quo Filius Dei dormit. Marc. IV, 38 et 39: Erat ipse in puppi super cervical dormiens, in Maria, quia talem alibi requiem non invenit. Et excitant eum discipuli, et dicunt ei: Magister, non ad te pertinet quia perimus? Et exsurgens in resurrectione, comminatus est vento, id est, diabolo, et dixit mari, id est, omnibus tentationibus: Tace, obmutesce.
3. Item, Ipsa est vidua pauper, sed largissima ditatrix totius Ecclesiae: nullus enim hominum, vel Angelorum, tantum dedit, quantum ipsa. Marc. XII, 43: Vidua haec pauper, scilicet rebus, id est, Maria, plus omnibus misit. Plus in quantitate, pretiositate, utilitate: quia misit Christum filium suum, in laetitiam desolatorum, in illuminationem caecorum, in liberationem captivorum.
4. Item, Ipsa est prima, quae post Deum revertenti peccatori occurrit. Marc. XIV, 13: Ite in civitatem, scilicet Ecclesiae communionem, quam, o peccatores, per peccatum amisistis, et occurret vobis homo, id est, Maria, tamquam mater festinans. Eccli. XV, 2: Et obviabit illi quasi mater honorificata, lagenam aquae, scilicet amphoram gratiarum et misericordiae, bajulans. Sed nunc audiamus consilium Dei: Sequimini eam: veraciter, quia tunc non errabitis: et secure, quia ab omni incursu defendere potest: et laetanter, quia ducit ad Jesum. Unde sequitur: In domum, scilicet caelestem, in quam intrat, scilicet in gloriosa ejus assumptione. Ergo merito beatus homo, cui tu occurris, Maria: occurre, quaeso, mihi peccatori, et duc clementer in domum tuam.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK.
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God 1.
1. The Lady of the Evangelists, the Virgin Mary, is compared to a grain of mustard. Mark 4:31 and 32, concerning which it is said that it is less than all seeds, and this through humility; and when it has been sown, namely by appearing in the world, it rises into a tree which by height, breadth, and age surpasses the nature of herbs. It is high, because it is lifted up to heavenly things; broad, because it occupies the whole world; aged, because it cannot be ended. These three are in the tree, namely Mary, who is greater in glory and charity than all garden plants, that is, Angels and human beings, and makes branches. Gloss: of mercy and compassion, great ones, so that under the shade of her protection the birds of heaven, that is, the saints of God, indeed also sinners, can dwell trustfully because of security, joyfully because of shade, usefully because of fruitfulness.
2. Likewise, she herself is the pillow of all virtues, on which the Son of God sleeps. Mark 4:38 and 39: He himself was in the stern sleeping on a pillow, in Mary, because he did not find such rest elsewhere. And the disciples wake him and say to him: Master, does it not concern you that we are perishing? And rising in the resurrection, he rebuked the wind, that is, the devil, and said to the sea, that is, to all temptations: Be silent, be mute.
3. Likewise, she herself is the poor widow, but the most generous enricher of the whole Church: for no human being or Angel gave as much as she did. Mark 12:43: This poor widow, poor in things, that is, Mary, cast in more than all. More in quantity, preciousness, and usefulness, because she sent Christ her Son for the joy of the desolate, for the illumination of the blind, for the liberation of captives.
4. Likewise, she herself is the first who, after God, meets the sinner returning. Mark 14:13: Go into the city, namely into the communion of the Church, which, O sinners, you lost through sin, and a man will meet you, that is, Mary, as a mother hastening. Ecclesiasticus 15:2: And she will meet him like an honored mother, carrying a jar of water, namely an amphora of graces and mercy. But now let us hear the counsel of God: Follow her: truly, because then you will not go astray; safely, because she can defend from every attack; and joyfully, because she leads to Jesus. Whence it follows: Into the house, namely the heavenly house, into which she enters, namely in her glorious assumption. Therefore deservedly blessed is the human being whom you meet, Mary: meet me, I ask, a sinner, and lead me mercifully into your house.
Notes
- Mark 1:1. (Marc. I, 1.) ↩
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