Second Sunday of Epiphany

The beginning of

   the Gospel… (Mark 1:1)

The word “Gospel” is an old English word so precious to English readers that they can’t give it up. Even when we try with translations like “good news”—it just doesn’t work. “Gospel” is better. It has to do with the New Testament word euaggelion (it’s the word agglia “message” with the preface eu meaning “good” or “beautiful”); translated in the old King James Version as “gospel” meaning the “good spell” or the “good story.” It’s the story that breaks bad spells and puts a good spell on you. 

Mark lets us know from his very first words that he is writing “Gospel” and that this Gospel is “about Jesus Christ, God’s Son” (Mk 1:1). The first Christians turned it into a five letter acronym “i-ch-th-y-s,” the New Testament word for “fish.” The five Greek letters for “fish” form the first letter of “Jesus” “Christ” “God’s” “Son” and the fifth letter. “Savior.” Mark follows the first four letters and leaves the fifth for us to work out. Is “Jesus Christ, God’s Son,” our Savior?

Epiphany is our “Yes” to “the Gospel about Jesus Christ God’s Son” our “Savior.”