Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Birmingham Diocesan Trust
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Flickr
Pray with us Donate
  • Safeguarding
Menu
  • About us
    • The Archdiocese of Birmingham
    • Trustees
    • Our Bishops
    • Safeguarding
    • Departments
    • Harvington Hall
    • St Chad's Sanctuary
    • Father Hudson's Care
    • Diocesan Guilds
    • Committees and Commissions
    • Jobs
    • Archdiocesan Archives
  • Vision
    • Vision
    • The Synod, 2021 - 2023
  • Churches and parishes
    • Mother Church - St Chad's Cathedral
    • Resources for staying at home
    • Find a church
    • Find a priest or deacon
    • Parish resources
    • Ethnic Chaplaincies
    • Boundary Map
  • Schools and youth services
    • Find a Catholic School
    • Birmingham Diocesan Education Service
    • Youth services
    • Newman University
  • Living as a Catholic
    • Prayer
    • Our faith
    • Become a Catholic
    • Catholic life
    • Come back to church
    • Environment
    • Adult Formation and Catechesis
  • Support our work
    • Caritas
    • Legacy
    • Donate
  • Vocations
    • Vocations Office
    • St Mary's College, Oscott
    • Becoming a Priest
    • Becoming a Deacon
    • Guild of St Stephen for Altar Servers
    • Ongoing Formation
  • Latest
    • Ukraine
    • Covid 19
    • The God Who Speaks
    • News
    • Events
    • Podcasts
    • The Sower Magazine
    • Lourdes Daily
    • Pilgrimages
    • Diocese Life Blog
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  1. Home
  2. St Mark's Gospel Reflections

St Mark's Gospel Reflections

Liturgical Year B:  Mark readings. An Introduction by Fr Dries van den Akker SJ.


We continue our meditations about the Sunday readings, now most of the time taken from the Gospel of Mark.

Actually, 30 years ago Peter Clare made a painting containing the whole Gospel of Mark: a sort of labyrinth (below).

It is composed as a monstrance or as a Celtic cross. In the centre we see the scene of Jesus’ resurrection; above that Jesus’ transfiguration and at the bottom his baptism. The scenes are separated by a golden line. Beginning with Jesus’ baptism (1:1-11) we have to look where the golden line is interrupted to find out the way to the next scene: Jesus in the desert (1:12) tempted by the devil (1:13). Climbing higher we see how John the Baptist is arrested (1:14) and how Jesus takes his place to preach the Gospel (1:15). And so on. It is already a meditation to take time and to discover how the different scenes are represented and placed one after another.

Peter Clare - Synopsis of Gospel (map)

Peter Clare - Synopsis of Gospel (text)

Every Sunday the Gospel reading is taken from Mark we will cut out of the big painting the little piece that illustrates the Mark story. Besides that we will present another picture which illustrates the same story plus a meditation about it.

In liturgical Year B some Sundays the readings are taken from other Gospels, especially Saint John’s. In that case we cannot ‘quote’ the Mark painting. We will choose any picture for our meditation.


Fr Dries is a member of the formation team of the International Novitiate.

He taught RE for many years in the beautiful city of Delft.

He is an expert on the Saints land on the history of Western Christian Art and he is a fine bible scholar who has just completed a new commentary on Mark’s Gospel.

A Whistlestop Tour of Mark by David McLoughlin


DOWNLOAD A Whistlestop Tour of Mark

Picture Meditation: Sunday 21 November

Picture Meditation: Sunday 21 November

Pilate said, 'So, then you are a king?' Jesus answered, 'It is you who say that I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this, to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.' Read more

Published: 19th November, 2021

Updated: 26th November, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 14 November

Picture Meditation: Sunday 14 November

'In truth I tell you, before this generation has passed away all these things will have taken place. Sky and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away'. Read more

Published: 12th November, 2021

Updated: 26th November, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 7 November

Picture Meditation: Sunday 7 November

Year B 32th Sunday: Mark 12:38-4412:43. 'In truth I tell you, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury' Read more

Published: 5th November, 2021

Updated: 17th November, 2021

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation: Sunday, 31 October

Picture Meditation: Sunday, 31 October

This Sunday, 31 October, we celebrate the Feast of All Saints. The reading of the Beatitudes reflects all kinds of saints. Read more

Published: 29th October, 2021

Updated: 13th December, 2021

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation: Sunday 24 October

Picture Meditation: Sunday 24 October

Then Jesus spoke, 'What do you want me to do for you?' The blind man said to him, 'Rabbuni, let me see again.' Jesus said to him, 'Go; your faith has saved you.' And at once his sight returned and he followed him along the road. Read more

Published: 22nd October, 2021

Updated: 13th December, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 17 October

Picture Meditation: Sunday 17 October

But Jesus said to them, 'You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I shall drink, or be baptised with the baptism with which I shall be baptised?' Read more

Published: 15th October, 2021

Updated: 22nd October, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 10 October

Picture Meditation: Sunday 10 October

'You know the commandments: You shall not kill; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.' Read more

Published: 8th October, 2021

Updated: 15th October, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 3 October

Picture Meditation: Sunday 3 October

'So then, what God has united, human beings must not divide.' Read more

Published: 1st October, 2021

Updated: 8th October, 2021

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation: Sunday 26 September

Picture Meditation: Sunday 26 September

'Anyone who is not against us is for us' Read more

Published: 24th September, 2021

Updated: 4th October, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 19 September

Picture Meditation: Sunday 19 September

So he sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, 'If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all'. Read more

Published: 17th September, 2021

Updated: 4th October, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 12 September

Picture Meditation: Sunday 12 September

Jesus and his disciples left for the villages round Caesarea Philippi. On the way he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say I am?' And they told him, 'John the Baptist, others Elijah, others again, one of the prophets.' 'But you', he asked them, 'who do you say I am?' Peter spoke up and said to him, 'You are the Christ.' Read more

Published: 10th September, 2021

Updated: 15th October, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 5 September

Picture Meditation: Sunday 5 September

And Jesus ordered them to tell no one about it, but the more he insisted, the more widely they proclaimed it. Their admiration was unbounded, and they said, 'Everything he does is good, he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.' Read more

Published: 3rd September, 2021

Updated: 10th September, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 30 May

Picture Meditation: Sunday 30 May

Year B Most Holy Trinity (Matthew 28:16-20). "Go, therefore, make disciples of all peoples" Read more

Published: 28th May, 2021

Updated: 4th June, 2021

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation: Sunday 23 May

Picture Meditation: Sunday 23 May

Year B Pentecost: John 20,19-23 "As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.'" Read more

Published: 21st May, 2021

Updated: 10th June, 2021

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation: Sunday 16 May

Picture Meditation: Sunday 16 May

Year B 7th Sunday Easter: John 17,11-19 "I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you." Read more

Published: 14th May, 2021

Updated: 24th May, 2021

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation: Sunday 9 May

Picture Meditation: Sunday 9 May

'You did not choose me, no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name. My command to you is to love one another'. Read more

Published: 7th May, 2021

Updated: 24th May, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 2 May

Picture Meditation: Sunday 2 May

'I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser' Read more

Published: 30th April, 2021

Updated: 7th May, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation Sunday 25 April

Picture Meditation Sunday 25 April

4th Sunday Easter: John 10,11-18 ‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.' Read more

Published: 23rd April, 2021

Updated: 7th May, 2021

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation: Sunday 18 April

Picture Meditation: Sunday 18 April

'He then opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, 'So it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this'. Read more

Published: 16th April, 2021

Updated: 7th May, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 11 April

Picture Meditation: Sunday 11 April

'Then he spoke to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving any more but believe'. Thomas replied, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him: You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe'. Read more

Published: 9th April, 2021

Updated: 16th April, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 4 April, Easter

Picture Meditation: Sunday 4 April, Easter

'On entering the tomb they saw a young man in a white robe seated on the right-hand side, and they were struck with amazement. But he said to them, 'There is no need to be so amazed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: he has risen, he is not here. See, here is the place where they laid him'. Read more

Published: 2nd April, 2021

Updated: 7th May, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 28 March, Palm Sunday

Picture Meditation: Sunday 28 March, Palm Sunday

'Then they took the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on its back, and he mounted it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others greenery which they had cut in the fields. And those who went in front and those who followed were all shouting, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who is coming in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of David our father! Hosanna in the highest heavens!' Read more

Published: 26th March, 2021

Updated: 24th May, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture meditation: Sunday 21 March

Picture meditation: Sunday 21 March

John 12,20-33 12:20 Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 12:21 These approached Philip, who came from Bethsaida in Galilee, and put this request to him, 'Sir, we should like to see Jesus.' 12:22 Philip went to tell Andrew, and Andrew and Philip together went to tell Jesus. 12:23 Jesus replied to them: Now the hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. Read more

Published: 19th March, 2021

Updated: 26th March, 2021

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation: Sunday 14 March

Picture Meditation: Sunday 14 March

John 3,14-21 'For God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but so that through him the world might be saved'. Read more

Published: 12th March, 2021

Updated: 19th March, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 7 March

Picture Meditation: Sunday 7 March

John 2,13-25 02:13   When the time of the Jewish Passover was near Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 02:14   and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting there. Read more

Published: 5th March, 2021

Updated: 12th March, 2021

Author: Caroline Bletso

Picture Meditation: Sunday 28 February

Picture Meditation: Sunday 28 February

Mark 9:2-10 'And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and from the cloud there came a voice, 'This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him'.' Read more

Published: 26th February, 2021

Updated: 12th March, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 21 February

Picture Meditation: Sunday 21 February

Mark 1:12-15 'And at once the Spirit drove him into the desert and he remained there for forty days, and was put to the test by Satan'. Read more

Published: 19th February, 2021

Updated: 26th February, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 14 February

Picture Meditation: Sunday 14 February

Mark 1:40-45 'A man suffering from a virulent skin-disease came to him and pleaded on his knees saying, 'If you are willing, you can cleanse me'.' Read more

Published: 12th February, 2021

Updated: 19th February, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 7 February

Picture Meditation: Sunday 7 February

Mark 1:29-39 'And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out devils'. Read more

Published: 5th February, 2021

Updated: 12th February, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Picture Meditation: Sunday 31 January

Picture Meditation: Sunday 31 January

Mark 1:21-28 'And his reputation at once spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside'. Read more

Published: 29th January, 2021

Updated: 12th March, 2021

Author: Faye Fawcett

Load more Back to top

Showing 10 of 39

Latest

  • Return to Hednesford

    Return to Hednesford

    For the first time since the pandemic, pilgrims returned to our own grotto at the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Hednesford. Photos and video.

  • The Abbey School welcomes Little Amal

    The Abbey School welcomes Little Amal

    "Refugee week reminds us it’s really important to welcome the stranger into a new community."

  • Thanksgiving Mass to celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines

    Thanksgiving Mass to celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines

    Join Archbishop Bernard Longley for this very special occasion, Friday 8 July

  • Refresher Day for parish liturgical ministers, Sept 2022

    Refresher Day for parish liturgical ministers, Sept 2022

    All welcome. Explore 'Desiderio Desideravi' - Pope Francis’ recent letter to the Church about the Liturgical Formation of the People of God.

Most read

  • Parishes with Live Streams

  • Intranet

  • Boundary Map

    Parish Boundaries for Archdiocese of Birmingham

  • The Synod, 2021 - 2023

    The Synod, 2021 - 2023

    Access information and resources. The deadline to receive feedback from parish conversations is Monday 28 February.

  • Latest guidance regarding Covid-19

    Latest guidance regarding Covid-19

    Latest guidance issued by the Catholic Bishops' Conference - as of 6 May 2022

  • The Archdiocese of Birmingham

    The Archdiocese of Birmingham

    What We Do

  • St Michael's, Birmingham

    St Michael's, Birmingham

    Parish No. 6

  • Parishes Online

    Parishes Online

    Accessing Live Streaming of Masses, prayers and resources for Catholics at home.

  • St Joseph and St Helen, Kings Norton

    St Joseph and St Helen, Kings Norton

    Parish No. 22

  • Bishops' Statement: Honouring Sunday

    Bishops' Statement: Honouring Sunday

    From the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales

Find a church

Find a priest

Find a school

I would like to receive the Diocesan e-newsletter

Call us

Adult Education (Maryvale Institute): 0121 360 8118

Cathedral: 0121 236 2251

Communications, press and website: 0121 230 6286

Finance: 0121 230 6216

Marriage Tribunal: 0121 230 6233

Property: 0121 230 6221

Safeguarding: 0121 230 6240

Schools and Colleges (Diocese Education Service): 01675 464755

Vicar General: 0121 230 6237

Vocations: 0121 321 5142

Weddings (Office for Marriage): 0121 230 6242

Youth Services: 01538 703 224

  • Parish documents
  • Contact
  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Notice
  • Policies

Birmingham Diocesan Trust, Registered Charity No. 234216