Mary, Mother of John Mark

Mary,  Mother of John Mark 

from Praying with the Women of the Bible

by Bridget Mary Meehan

M ary, mother of John Mark, was a leader of one of the

house churches in Jerusalem. Scholars believe that Hellenist or Greek Christians—

not the Hebrew Christians associated with James—gathered in her home. She was

an independent woman with considerable resources, including a spacious home which became an important center

for first-century Christians to meet for worship and prayer. Some commentators believe that Mary presided at Eucharist there and that her home was the headquarters of the Jerusalem church.1 It is significant that this “Mary” did not sell

her house and give the proceeds to the apostles for the common need as described in Acts; and that she dedicated her home as a center for Christian gatherings. In Jerusalem this was dangerous because Christians had had to give up worship in temple and synagogues due of the threat of persecution.2

It is interesting to note that in the Greek and Roman culture, women participated in festive meals. Hence it is more likely that women would participate in the “breaking of the bread” in the Hellenistic Christian house churches than in the Hebrew Christian communities.3

Mary was probably a widow. She was the mother of John Mark, a coworker of Paul and an aunt or cousin of Barnabas, a missionary apostle in the church at Jerusalem. Mary knew Peter. Since her son worked with Paul, she probably had some connection with Paul.

The Acts of the Apostles tells the story of Peter’s amazing escape from prison to Mary’s home. On the night Peter was to be judged, an angel appeared, a light shone in the cell, and his chains fell off. The angel instructed Peter to follow him. He obeyed the angel’s orders but thought he was seeing a vision. Then, suddenly, Peter realized that the angel was sent by God to deliver him from the violent persecution of Herod. As soon as he understood this, Peter immediately went to Mary’s house church where many members of the Christian community were praying. Peter knocked at the gate. Rhoda, the maid, came to answer and upon recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overwhelmed that, instead of letting Peter in, she rushed back to tell the community—leaving Peter standing at the gate. At first, the community didn’t believe her. Meanwhile Peter kept knocking, and when they opened the gate, they were overjoyed to see him. Peter then told them the details of his miraculous rescue. He instructed them to tell James and the other believers. Then he left (see Acts

12:6–17).

The brief passage that mentions Mary’s name and describes her house church is significant for two reasons. First, the very mention of her name reflects her prominence in the community. Second, it is revealing that Peter, after his release from prison, goes immediately to her home. It seems that Mary’s house church was the place where believers in Jerusalem came regularly to pray and to seek refuge when their lives were threatened. According to the scriptures, there were a number of other women whose names and house churches were also mentioned. Like Mary, their homes also were the first Christian





“churches.” These include: Chloe (1 Cor 1:11); Lydia (Acts 16:40); Nympha (Col 4:15) and

Prisca (Rom 16:3,5).4

The text makes it evident that women and men in the early Christian movement formed a praying community. No longer was there a woman’s court and the court of Israel, “where many had gathered and were praying” (Acts 12:12). This was a major break with custom, which reflected the influence of Jesus. Janice Nunnally-Cox observes: “The house of Mary and the other women’s houses are revolutionary; they house dissidents, they break custom, they initiate new worship, they continue the teachings of Jesus.”5

As a champion of dissident Christians and a leader who presided at Eucharist, Mary is one who understands our quest to initiate new paradigms of worship, prayer, and Christian community today. From all over the globe, sisters, daughters, mothers, grandmothers, women of many cultures are sharing their visions and their dreams to birth a new voice for prayer and worship. Women’s prayer groups have appeared in many places and are exploring a rich variety of resources and styles. As the bondage of racism, sexism, militarism, materialism, and ageism continues, the proclamation of the Word, the beauty of praise, the joy of song and dance, the power of ritual are needed all the more to open our hearts to justice, peace, and equality. Mary is a companion whom we can invite to join us on our journey to inclusive, liberating, vibrant communal worship.







Reflection



“As soon as he realized this, he [Peter] went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying. When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. On recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, ‘You are out of your mind!’ But she insisted that it was so. They said, ‘It is his angel.’ Meanwhile Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed. He motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and described for them how God had brought him out of the prison. And he added, ‘Tell this to James and to the believers.’ Then he left and went to another place” (Acts 12:12–17).







Discussion Starters



1. What is the significance of Mary presiding at Eucharist in her house church in Jerusalem? Do you suppose John Mark, Peter, or Barnabas were ever present at these eucharistic celebrations? If so, how do you think they responded?

2. Are women today leaders in communities similar to house churches? Do they preside at Eucharist in these communities? What impact do women who preside at Eucharist in the Anglican and Lutheran traditions have on the people of God today? Should women, in your opinion, preside at Eucharist in the Roman Catholic tradition? in the Orthodox tradition?

3. Why is it important to be a member of a praying community?

4. What new forms or expressions of prayer, ritual, and liturgy are women’s communities




experimenting with today? What new forms or expressions of prayer, ritual, and liturgy are renewal movements in the Church experimenting with today? What impact do these new expressions or experiences have on you? the local community? the universal Church?







Prayer Experience



1. Imagine God as a sister-companion accompanying you through life…. Begin this prayer experience by inhaling Sister-God’s tremendous love for life…. Exhale any negative thoughts and feelings…. Recall that Sister-God is always with you…with all people…with all creation…. You have something special you want to share with her…. Sister-God wants to give you a gift….

2. Imagine you are Mary in the house church in Jerusalem…. It is such a hectic place….

People are coming and going…. Herod’s persecution has caused trouble for the community…. Peter is in prison…. The community is gathering today for Eucharist…. The singing starts…prayers of praise and thanksgiving fill the room…. You break the bread and pour the wine…. Everyone shares in the bread and wine…. The community shares their gifts and blessings…. As the celebration concludes, Rhoda comes in…. She says that Peter is at the gate…. The group laughs…

tells her that she is crazy…. Then a few members go to the gate to check it out…. Sure enough, here comes Peter…. He tells the story of the angel and his release…. Everyone is amazed…. Before he departs, Peter tells the community to share the good news with James and the believers…. Now you want to share some thoughts…feelings…insights with the members of your house church before they leave….

3. Pretend that you belong to a faith community where women preside at Eucharist…. Be attentive to Christ’s nurturing presence…. Abundant grace surrounds you….

4. Name ways that women image Sister-God in the contemporary world.

Offer thanks for woman presence in your life.

5. Compose a prayer, psalm, song, dance, or design an art piece expressing your gratitude for your relationships…

with Sister-God…with significant women in your life….

6. Compose an original eucharistic prayer and share it with others in a praying community….



7. Be aware of how you can become “bread broken” by sharing, caring, and serving others in your city….