MONDAY IN VENICE

We spent the day walking through Venice. To our surprise, this is the busiest place we’ve visited yet – thought it might be empty because of the winter season. After walking around all day in the cold, we are frozen, and return to our room to eat a wonderful salad after buying lettuce, cheese and other vegetables at a grocery store.

One of the places we visited was Piazza San Marco, the place Napolean proclaimed as the finest drawing room of all Europe. But nothing prepares you for the spectacle of the Basilica of St. Mark. Angels trumpet the way in glittering mosaics above vast portals. Inside, the soaring stone structure, the intricate geometrical designs of 12’th century marble flooring, and the 12’th through 15’th century mosaic domes with millions of glass tiles takes your breath away. This is the place where Venetian merchants smuggled the body of St. Mark out of Egypt in AD 828. Venice was without a saint and this was the way they got one.

It’s hard to imagine Mark, an early follower of Jesus and author of the gospel of Mark, approving all of this dazzling grandeur. I try to imagine how many hungry people in the world could be fed with all the resources it took to build this massive structure.

And yet as we enter a side chapel and join others in prayer, I see persons deeply moved in prayer. Perhaps there is some merit in bringing honor and respect to Jesus Christ and one of his followers, rather than just worshiping and honoring other gods. It is amazing to see thousands of people show interest in an early follower of Jesus!

We enter even deeper into an inner and smaller chapel – a place marked for prayer only. It is very still and quiet here – an excellent place for prayer – away from the throngs of people making their way through the main part of the basilica without stopping to spend time alone with the God whom Mark served.

A mosaic in the wall above shows Mark being burned and then being drug through the streets of Alexandria still in flames. It reminds me of our own Anabaptist fathers and mothers who were burned at the stake. No massive stunning basilicas built in their honor – not a part of our tradition or faith.

Mark was hated and dishonored as an evangelist in Alexandria, Egypt, and now thousands line up every day to respect and honor him.

In spite of not fully comprehending the purpose and grandeur of this Basilica, thank you Lord for this special place to become quiet and still and remember one of your early followers. May your call to Mark live in our hearts today!