This week's Markan text comes near the end of Mark's Gospel, but it comes first in the Church Year. As such, this might well be the first chapter of this book that you read for sermon preparation. There are two Markan pericopes appointed from Mark 13. Mark 13:1-8 is discussed in the previous chapter, chapter 32. Please read this prior chapter before you work further on this week's Advent text assignment.

We pointed out in chapter 32 that Mark 13 might function in somewhat the same way that the Parable of the Sower functions in Mark's Gospel. The Parable of the Sower speaks to the issue of the failure of the kingdom-come-near-in-Jesus (Mark 1:15) to attract listeners. In chapters 2 and 3 of Mark we read of much controversey over Jesus' ministry and Jesus' rejection by the Pharisees and Her…