Mark/Lion
St.Jerome tells us that the lion recalls Mark who begins with the voice crying out in the wilderness.
Christ is presented as very direct and powerful.
- He declares the kingdom of God and repentance (1:1-15)
- Christ calls and “immediately” the disciples follow and obey (1:16-20)
- Christ teaches, heals, exercises demons, all while travelling around Galilee (1:21-39)
The lion is most courageous of beasts, and the good man giving renounced all worldly things fears nothing, for of him it is written, “the righteous are bold as a lion”.
Just as Christ faced his struggle and did not run away from his enigmatic death, we should expect no less struggle, trial, and suffering
- Christ patiently faces confrontation in the garden (14:48)
- Christ bears the insults of the soldiers (15:16-20)
- He does not pursue Pilot’s attempt to free him (15:9)
- Or his mocker’s challenges while on the cross (15:30)
The lion, which in the fables sleeps with open eyes, is the symbol of the Resurrection, for therein is a figure of Jesus in the tomb. “For the redeemer in virtue of his humanity appeared to sink into the sleep of death, but in virtue of His divinity, He was living and watching”.
The resurrection is depicted as suddenly and inexplicably as the rest of the Gospel. There is power and enigma here.
- There’s not consolation of the disciples, only the amazement at the message of the angel. (16:1-8)
Video
Sources
Burridge, Richard A. Four Gospels, One Jesus?. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2005.
Male, Emile. The Gothic Image:religious art in france of the thirteenth century. New York: Harper & Row, 1972.
St. Irenaeus of Lyons (ca. 120-202 AD) - Adversus Haereses 3.11.8 http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103311.htm
St. Jerome http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf206.vii.iv.ii.html also have translation of part of latin text.
Augustine http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf106.vi.iv.vi.html
Here are a few verses for each that I thought kind of fit. It is a little harder for Luke than John. http://www.latinvulgate.com/ luke 18:16 21:19 7:47 19:10 john 1:1 1:4 5:26 6:38
Images
Culture South Italian (perhaps Benevento) Title Plaque Plaque with Agnus Dei on a Cross between Emblems of the Four Evangelists Date 975-1000 Material Ivory
Creator Vittore Carpaccio Title Lion of Saint Mark Work Type painting Location Palazzo ducale (Venice, Italy)
Creator Guyart Desmoulins Title Bible historiale. Folio #: fol. 181v Work Type Manuscript Date 14th century, first quarter Material Parchment
Title Book of Hours. Use of Rome. Folio #: fol. 019v Work Type Manuscript School French Made in: Paris Description Pericope from St. Mark. St. Mark sits writing; winged lion before him; clasped books on shelf above. Illumination attributed to Maître François.
Creator Italy, Venice, late 17th, early 18th century Culture European; Southern European; Italian; Venetian Title Banner With the Lion of St. Mark (banner) Work Type Textiles Textiles Date late 17th - early 18th century Material brown silk with fringe