It is a basic method for planning that you have to know where you're going if you are ever going to get there. If you are driving from Las Cruces to L.A. you will need to know where L.A. is before you can plot a route for the trip. The same is true when planning for your own life or for the work of an organization. You will need to know where you are going in order to plan a way to get there. Maybe that is what we are doing today with this reading from Mark.
Today is the first day of the new church year.
We are on a three year Lectionary cycle that rotates between Matthew, Mark, and Luke. We have just finished our year in Matthew and today we begin a year in Mark. But we don't start there. If you have a chance, take a look at the end of Mark's gospel. The most striking thing is that Mark has no resurrection appearances.