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September 13, 2009
Twenty Fourth Sunday in OT (B)
Isaiah 50: 4-9 / Psalm 116: 1-6, 8-9 /
James 2: 14-18 / Mark 8: 27-35
TRUE VICTORY THROUGH THE CROSS
OF JESUS CHRIST

Word: Peter’s declaration of faith: You are the Christ” and the subsequent teaching of Jesus marks a turning point in the gospel of Mark. Earlier in the gospel Jesus was traveling from one town or city to another, teaching, healing, and discussing God’s reign. After this event in today’s gospel reading, although he continues to teach and heal, Jesus turns decisively toward the city of Jerusalem where he will meet his sufferings and death.
Although Jesus’ question regarding his identity is innocent enough, it is clear that many people have misunderstood his mission and identity. Many people were saying, Jesus is “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” (Mk 8:28).
It is left to Peter to identify Jesus as the one for whom Israel had been waiting for long, the one in whom the people could place their hope.
Jesus seems to accept this designation, but not without serious misgivings. He must correct their mistaken assumption that the Messiah would be a political leader, perhaps a revolutionary, or a priestly figure, or a prophet, or an eschatological judge, or at least a respected and revered teacher. Instead, Jesus teaches that he will be rejected, even to death. “He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days” (Mk 8: 31).
“Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him” (Mk 8:32). Peter’s discomfort with such a Messiah is understandable. Peter must be thinking what glory would there be in death? So he disputes Jesus’ teaching.
Jesus’ response is harsh; he has no patience for anyone who attempts to weaken his resolve or sacrifice principle for comfort. “At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do” (Mk 8:33).
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Order: Today’s passage ends with Jesus’ teaching about discipleship. “He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, ‘Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me’. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it” (Mk 8:34-35). Yes, following Jesus involves suffering. There is no alternative. Just as Jesus had to travel the long road to Jerusalem and death in order to experience the glory of the resurrection, so also those who believe in him be willing to walk the path he trod.
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Realities: Many of us in our present times, like Peter, do not see that victory is not served on an easy platter, even to the Messiah. Our lives on this world, many of us think, must be spent in easy comfort. Even going to church is no longer a “sacrifice”. It is better to spend the rest day in the fully airconditioned malls or in a cool swimming pool. In front of the awesome presence of Jesus at the Blessed Sacrament, we seem to no longer know how to have right manners or clothes. We disdain “pain and suffering”. We forget that any victorious warrior must first pass through fire. We seldom recall that the task of Messiah is to free, not Israel from bondage of foreign dictators, but mankind from the ugly bondage of sin.
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Direction : Lord, by the most holy sufferings which we, your unworthy servants, devoutly call to mind, and by your holy Cross and death deliver us from the pains of hell, and be pleased to take us where you took the penitent thief who was crucified with you. You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen. (Prayer for the Grace of the Passion, People’s Prayer Book, no. 841)

This entry was posted on Friday, September 18th, 2009 at 6:26 pm and is filed under Stories.