St. Mark, Evangelist
Mark 1:1-15
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
"See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,'"
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean
countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and
were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John
was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and
he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, "The one who is more
powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and
untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he
will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John
in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the
heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a
voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well
pleased."
And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in
the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild
beasts; and the angels waited on him.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good
news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God
has come near, repent, and believe in the good news."
