St Mark’s day is normally celebrated on April 25^th, except in years when Easter Week takes precedent.
In 2025, therefore, it is kept on April 29^th.

One of the key words in the Gospel occurs 42 times in St Mark’s Gospel – the word is  euthus” (εὐθύς), which is translated as ‘immediately’, or ‘straightway’. The use of this word gives the Gospel account a sense of urgency. There is an emphasis on the active and dynamic ministry of Jesus.
My poem ‘euthus’ below is inspired by the word and its meaning.

Euthus – immediately!

Straightway,
he takes up the pen,
dips it in the ink:
words flow onto parchment
at once.

Getting it down immediately
as readers wait:
impatient to hear this story of faith.

We long for phrases
that awaken and challenge the heart;
ideas that lift souls
in search of meaning;
feet, itching for travel,
on our pilgrimage to God,
are now hope-filled.

Eagerly,
we follow way-markers,
constructed not with stones
but with the pen.

Our souls need feeding
and our minds are thirsty for truth.
The parchment lays itself open to the pen,
which breathlessly recounts the story:
the wonderful Good News
that enlivens us.

Straightway,
words take shape:
‘The beginning of the Good News
of Jesus Christ, the Son of God……..’

Mr G
St Mark’s Day, 2025