St. John The Baptist website: https://www.saintjohnthebaptist.org/ GOA Parish Directory: https://www.goarch.org/parishes List of Sources Used For This Study: Revised Standard Version of the Bible National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201&version=RSV The Religion of the Apostles Fr. Stephan De Young https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-religion-of-the-apostles-orthodox-christianity-in-the-first-century?_pos=1&_psq=the+religion+of+the+ap&_ss=e&_v=1.0 At the End of Time: The Eschatological Expectations of the Church Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/at-the-end-of-time The Gospel According to Saint Mark Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-according-to-saint-mark Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to Mark (Soft Cover) Theophylact of Ochrid https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/0635c1b0-0fb9-11e7-e820-5b79d48c82f2?_pos=6&_sid=5f044f26b&_ss=r The Gospel of Mark: The Suffering Servant Fr. Lawrence R. Farley https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-of-mark-the-suffering-servant?_pos=3&_psq=The+gospel+of+ma&_ss=e&_v=1.0 The New Testament Introduction, vol. 1. - Paul and Mark Fr. Paul N Tarazi https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/new-testament-introduction-the-vol-i-paul-and-mark?_pos=9&_sid=81aa9a5a0&_ss=r Authority and Passion Archbishop Demetrios, Formerly of America New Edition Coming Soon Mark C. Clifton Black Mark 1-8 Mark 8-16 Joel Marcus Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Mark Thomas C. Oden & Christopher A. Hall

St. John The Baptist website: https://www.saintjohnthebaptist.org/ GOA Parish Directory: https://www.goarch.org/parishes List of Sources Used For This Study: Revised Standard Version of the Bible National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201&version=RSV The Religion of the Apostles Fr. Stephan De Young https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-religion-of-the-apostles-orthodox-christianity-in-the-first-century?_pos=1&_psq=the+religion+of+the+ap&_ss=e&_v=1.0 At the End of Time: The Eschatological Expectations of the Church Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/at-the-end-of-time The Gospel According to Saint Mark Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-according-to-saint-mark Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to Mark (Soft Cover) Theophylact of Ochrid https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/0635c1b0-0fb9-11e7-e820-5b79d48c82f2?_pos=6&_sid=5f044f26b&_ss=r The Gospel of Mark: The Suffering Servant Fr. Lawrence R. Farley https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-of-mark-the-suffering-servant?_pos=3&_psq=The+gospel+of+ma&_ss=e&_v=1.0 The New Testament Introduction, vol. 1. - Paul and Mark Fr. Paul N Tarazi https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/new-testament-introduction-the-vol-i-paul-and-mark?_pos=9&_sid=81aa9a5a0&_ss=r Authority and Passion Archbishop Demetrios, Formerly of America New Edition Coming Soon Mark C. Clifton Black Mark 1-8 Mark 8-16 Joel Marcus Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Mark Thomas C. Oden & Christopher A. Hall

St. John The Baptist website: https://www.saintjohnthebaptist.org/ GOA Parish Directory: https://www.goarch.org/parishes List of Sources Used For This Study: Revised Standard Version of the Bible National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201&version=RSV The Religion of the Apostles Fr. Stephan De Young https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-religion-of-the-apostles-orthodox-christianity-in-the-first-century?_pos=1&_psq=the+religion+of+the+ap&_ss=e&_v=1.0 At the End of Time: The Eschatological Expectations of the Church Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/at-the-end-of-time The Gospel According to Saint Mark Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-according-to-saint-mark Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to Mark (Soft Cover) Theophylact of Ochrid https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/0635c1b0-0fb9-11e7-e820-5b79d48c82f2?_pos=6&_sid=5f044f26b&_ss=r The Gospel of Mark: The Suffering Servant Fr. Lawrence R. Farley https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-of-mark-the-suffering-servant?_pos=3&_psq=The+gospel+of+ma&_ss=e&_v=1.0 The New Testament Introduction, vol. 1. - Paul and Mark Fr. Paul N Tarazi https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/new-testament-introduction-the-vol-i-paul-and-mark?_pos=9&_sid=81aa9a5a0&_ss=r Authority and Passion Archbishop Demetrios, Formerly of America New Edition Coming Soon Mark C. Clifton Black Mark 1-8 Mark 8-16 Joel Marcus Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Mark Thomas C. Oden & Christopher A. Hall

St. John The Baptist website: https://www.saintjohnthebaptist.org/ GOA Parish Directory: https://www.goarch.org/parishes List of Sources Used For This Study: Revised Standard Version of the Bible National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201&version=RSV The Religion of the Apostles Fr. Stephan De Young https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-religion-of-the-apostles-orthodox-christianity-in-the-first-century?_pos=1&_psq=the+religion+of+the+ap&_ss=e&_v=1.0 At the End of Time: The Eschatological Expectations of the Church Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/at-the-end-of-time The Gospel According to Saint Mark Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-according-to-saint-mark Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to Mark (Soft Cover) Theophylact of Ochrid https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/0635c1b0-0fb9-11e7-e820-5b79d48c82f2?_pos=6&_sid=5f044f26b&_ss=r The Gospel of Mark: The Suffering Servant Fr. Lawrence R. Farley https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-of-mark-the-suffering-servant?_pos=3&_psq=The+gospel+of+ma&_ss=e&_v=1.0 The New Testament Introduction, vol. 1. - Paul and Mark Fr. Paul N Tarazi https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/new-testament-introduction-the-vol-i-paul-and-mark?_pos=9&_sid=81aa9a5a0&_ss=r Authority and Passion Archbishop Demetrios, Formerly of America New Edition Coming Soon Mark C. Clifton Black Mark 1-8 Mark 8-16 Joel Marcus Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Mark Thomas C. Oden & Christopher A. Hall

St. John The Baptist website: https://www.saintjohnthebaptist.org/ GOA Parish Directory: https://www.goarch.org/parishes List of Sources Used For This Study: Revised Standard Version of the Bible National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201&version=RSV The Religion of the Apostles Fr. Stephan De Young https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-religion-of-the-apostles-orthodox-christianity-in-the-first-century?_pos=1&_psq=the+religion+of+the+ap&_ss=e&_v=1.0 At the End of Time: The Eschatological Expectations of the Church Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/at-the-end-of-time The Gospel According to Saint Mark Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-according-to-saint-mark Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to Mark (Soft Cover) Theophylact of Ochrid https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/0635c1b0-0fb9-11e7-e820-5b79d48c82f2?_pos=6&_sid=5f044f26b&_ss=r The Gospel of Mark: The Suffering Servant Fr. Lawrence R. Farley https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-of-mark-the-suffering-servant?_pos=3&_psq=The+gospel+of+ma&_ss=e&_v=1.0 The New Testament Introduction, vol. 1. - Paul and Mark Fr. Paul N Tarazi https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/new-testament-introduction-the-vol-i-paul-and-mark?_pos=9&_sid=81aa9a5a0&_ss=r Authority and Passion Archbishop Demetrios, Formerly of America New Edition Coming Soon Mark C. Clifton Black Mark 1-8 Mark 8-16 Joel Marcus Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Mark Thomas C. Oden & Christopher A. Hall

St. John The Baptist website: https://www.saintjohnthebaptist.org/ GOA Parish Directory: https://www.goarch.org/parishes List of Sources Used For This Study: Revised Standard Version of the Bible National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201&version=RSV The Religion of the Apostles Fr. Stephan De Young https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-religion-of-the-apostles-orthodox-christianity-in-the-first-century?_pos=1&_psq=the+religion+of+the+ap&_ss=e&_v=1.0 At the End of Time: The Eschatological Expectations of the Church Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/at-the-end-of-time The Gospel According to Saint Mark Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-according-to-saint-mark Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to Mark (Soft Cover) Theophylact of Ochrid https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/0635c1b0-0fb9-11e7-e820-5b79d48c82f2?_pos=6&_sid=5f044f26b&_ss=r The Gospel of Mark: The Suffering Servant Fr. Lawrence R. Farley https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-of-mark-the-suffering-servant?_pos=3&_psq=The+gospel+of+ma&_ss=e&_v=1.0 The New Testament Introduction, vol. 1. - Paul and Mark Fr. Paul N Tarazi https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/new-testament-introduction-the-vol-i-paul-and-mark?_pos=9&_sid=81aa9a5a0&_ss=r Authority and Passion Archbishop Demetrios, Formerly of America New Edition Coming Soon Mark C. Clifton Black Mark 1-8 Mark 8-16 Joel Marcus Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Mark Thomas C. Oden & Christopher A. Hall

Within the eighth chapter of the Gospel According to St. Mark, the narrative of Christ’s coming passion continues to ramp up.  Conflict will continue between Him and His adversaries, as well as the conflict with His own followers. Yet, in this whole section, the through line is that although the twelve may harden their hearts to who Christ is for the moment, through faith, their hearts will soon be opened as He revealed to them His glory through the resurrection.  During this chapter, we will also see examples of Christ's final direct interactions with the Gentiles; however, they are being welcomed into the kingdom and will continue to be highlighted, for they, as well as the twelve and all humanity, are being welcomed into the messianic kingdom. St. John The Baptist website: https://www.saintjohnthebaptist.org/ GOA Parish Directory: https://www.goarch.org/parishes List of Sources Used For This Study: Revised Standard Version of the Bible National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201&version=RSV The Religion of the Apostles Fr. Stephan De Young https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-religion-of-the-apostles-orthodox-christianity-in-the-first-century?_pos=1&_psq=the+religion+of+the+ap&_ss=e&_v=1.0 At the End of Time: The Eschatological Expectations of the Church Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/at-the-end-of-time The Gospel According to Saint Mark Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-according-to-saint-mark Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to Mark (Soft Cover) Theophylact of Ochrid https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/0635c1b0-0fb9-11e7-e820-5b79d48c82f2?_pos=6&_sid=5f044f26b&_ss=r The Gospel of Mark: The Suffering Servant Fr. Lawrence R. Farley https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-of-mark-the-suffering-servant?_pos=3&_psq=The+gospel+of+ma&_ss=e&_v=1.0 The New Testament Introduction, vol. 1. - Paul and Mark Fr. Paul N Tarazi https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/new-testament-introduction-the-vol-i-paul-and-mark?_pos=9&_sid=81aa9a5a0&_ss=r Authority and Passion Archbishop Demetrios, Formerly of America New Edition Coming Soon Mark C. Clifton Black Mark 1-8 Mark 8-16 Joel Marcus Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Mark Thomas C. Oden & Christopher A. Hall

In Mark chapter 7, we are again confronted with Christ's coming passion, as seen in the actions of the Scribes and Pharisees as a result of their hardness of heart, yet Jesus takes this opportunity to teach those who follow Him.  In teaching His followers, from where true impurity is rooted, Christ shows us that in Him, all is made clean, which is further exemplified in the example given of the faith of the Syrophoenician woman.  Finally, Christ reminds us not to fall into the temptation of hardheartedness by healing a deaf and dumb man to show how those who are around Him have blocked their ears to the truth that is in front of them.  Thus Christ warns His followers to truly be attentive to what is being revealed in the coming of the messianic age, as well as His willingness to shepherd us through our lives towards acquiring this understanding. St. John The Baptist website: https://www.saintjohnthebaptist.org/ GOA Parish Directory: https://www.goarch.org/parishes List of Sources Used For This Study: Revised Standard Version of the Bible National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201&version=RSV The Religion of the Apostles Fr. Stephan De Young https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-religion-of-the-apostles-orthodox-christianity-in-the-first-century?_pos=1&_psq=the+religion+of+the+ap&_ss=e&_v=1.0 At the End of Time: The Eschatological Expectations of the Church Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/at-the-end-of-time The Gospel According to Saint Mark Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-according-to-saint-mark Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to Mark (Soft Cover) Theophylact of Ochrid https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/0635c1b0-0fb9-11e7-e820-5b79d48c82f2?_pos=6&_sid=5f044f26b&_ss=r The Gospel of Mark: The Suffering Servant Fr. Lawrence R. Farley https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-of-mark-the-suffering-servant?_pos=3&_psq=The+gospel+of+ma&_ss=e&_v=1.0 The New Testament Introduction, vol. 1. - Paul and Mark Fr. Paul N Tarazi https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/new-testament-introduction-the-vol-i-paul-and-mark?_pos=9&_sid=81aa9a5a0&_ss=r Authority and Passion Archbishop Demetrios, Formerly of America New Edition Coming Soon Mark C. Clifton Black Mark 1-8 Mark 8-16 Joel Marcus Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Mark Thomas C. Oden & Christopher A. Hall

The following narrative of Mark 6 continues the process of revealing to us who Jesus truly is and the broader call that is made of all of us who follow Him in the way we live our lives.  As we see in a common trend in this chapter, in our lives, we are presented with opportunities to serve God and His people every day. Yet, even those who can be seen as closest to Him, in the people of his neighbors or disciples, can have hardened hearts in spite of the revelations He offers to them and us daily.  Thus our hardheartedness will only lead to destruction, as seen in the events that lead to the death of John, yet this is contrasted with the apostolic call of service, which is revealed to feed the multitudes.  Christ is offering us the fruit of the kingdom, yet whether we accept it or not is totally up to us.  Thus we have a call to accept the gift that is offered to us and take on the apostolic mission to share it with others, but we also have the freedom to reject it and harden our hearts leading to our deviation from our true call. St. John The Baptist website: https://www.saintjohnthebaptist.org/ GOA Parish Directory: https://www.goarch.org/parishes List of Sources Used For This Study: Revised Standard Version of the Bible National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201&version=RSV The Religion of the Apostles Fr. Stephan De Young https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-religion-of-the-apostles-orthodox-christianity-in-the-first-century?_pos=1&_psq=the+religion+of+the+ap&_ss=e&_v=1.0 At the End of Time: The Eschatological Expectations of the Church Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/at-the-end-of-time The Gospel According to Saint Mark Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-according-to-saint-mark Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to Mark (Soft Cover) Theophylact of Ochrid https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/0635c1b0-0fb9-11e7-e820-5b79d48c82f2?_pos=6&_sid=5f044f26b&_ss=r The Gospel of Mark: The Suffering Servant Fr. Lawrence R. Farley https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-of-mark-the-suffering-servant?_pos=3&_psq=The+gospel+of+ma&_ss=e&_v=1.0 The New Testament Introduction, vol. 1. - Paul and Mark Fr. Paul N Tarazi https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/new-testament-introduction-the-vol-i-paul-and-mark?_pos=9&_sid=81aa9a5a0&_ss=r Authority and Passion Archbishop Demetrios, Formerly of America New Edition Coming Soon Mark C. Clifton Black Mark 1-8 Mark 8-16 Joel Marcus Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Mark Thomas C. Oden & Christopher A. Hall

Within this chapter, we witness a series of three healings, the demoniac, the woman with the flow of blood, and finally, Jairus’s daughter.  All three of these healings have a common element that we can examine, and that element is the fact that their infirmity causes them to stand outside of the broader social order.  For the demoniac, it is seen in his living among the mountains and tooms, the woman with the flow of blood it is seen in her ritual impurity, which causes her to have to stand apart from the broader Jewish society, and finally, with Jairus’s daughter, it lies in the threat of death, which will separate her from the community of the living.  In all of these cases, we see infirmity lead to division from humanity. Yet, Christ shows us that in Him, this disunity can ultimately be transformed, back into the intended state of true unity, for in Christ, we are all to be made brothers and sisters of the Most High God, united in the true family of the Body of Christ. St. John The Baptist website: https://www.saintjohnthebaptist.org/ GOA Parish Directory: https://www.goarch.org/parishes List of Sources Used For This Study: Revised Standard Version of the Bible National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201&version=RSV The Religion of the Apostles Fr. Stephan De Young https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-religion-of-the-apostles-orthodox-christianity-in-the-first-century?_pos=1&_psq=the+religion+of+the+ap&_ss=e&_v=1.0 At the End of Time: The Eschatological Expectations of the Church Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/at-the-end-of-time The Gospel According to Saint Mark Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-according-to-saint-mark Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to Mark (Soft Cover) Theophylact of Ochrid https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/0635c1b0-0fb9-11e7-e820-5b79d48c82f2?_pos=6&_sid=5f044f26b&_ss=r The Gospel of Mark: The Suffering Servant Fr. Lawrence R. Farley https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-of-mark-the-suffering-servant?_pos=3&_psq=The+gospel+of+ma&_ss=e&_v=1.0 The New Testament Introduction, vol. 1. - Paul and Mark Fr. Paul N Tarazi https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/new-testament-introduction-the-vol-i-paul-and-mark?_pos=9&_sid=81aa9a5a0&_ss=r Authority and Passion Archbishop Demetrios, Formerly of America New Edition Coming Soon Mark C. Clifton Black Mark 1-8 Mark 8-16 Joel Marcus Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Mark Thomas C. Oden & Christopher A. Hall