Do We Go Jesus’ Way?

September 12, Sunday

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

What are we looking for in life? Good health, happiness in our families, in our job, in our faith, good relationships with ourselves, with people and with God. When Jesus tells us today that we have to follow him in taking up the crosses that come our way, do we accept that as disciples of Jesus today? Do we take that as a part of our faith or do we say, “Lord, everything – but not that!”? Jesus assures us: “Anyone who loses his or her life for my sake will find life, will save life.” Come, let us meet the Lord who speaks to us.

 

First Reading: Isaiah 50:5-9

The Master, God, has given me
    a well-taught tongue,
So I know how to encourage tired people.
    He wakes me up in the morning,
Wakes me up, opens my ears
    to listen as one ready to take orders.
The Master, God, opened my ears,
    and I didn’t go back to sleep,
    didn’t pull the covers back over my head.
I followed orders,
    stood there and took it while they beat me,
    held steady while they pulled out my beard,
Didn’t dodge their insults,
    faced them as they spit in my face.
And the Master, God, stays right there and helps me,
    so I’m not disgraced.
Therefore I set my face like flint,
    confident that I’ll never regret this.
My champion is right here.
    Let’s take our stand together!
Who dares bring suit against me?
    Let him try!
Look! the Master, God, is right here.
    Who would dare call me guilty?
Look! My accusers are a clothes bin of threadbare
    socks and shirts, fodder for moths!

 

Second Reading: James 2:14-18

Faith in Action

Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?

I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works department.”

Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.

 

Gospel: Mark 8:27-35

The Messiah

Jesus and his disciples headed out for the villages around Caesarea Philippi. As they walked, he asked, “Who do the people say I am?”

 “Some say ‘John the Baptizer,’” they said. “Others say ‘Elijah.’ Still others say ‘one of the prophets.’”

 He then asked, “And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?”

Peter gave the answer: “You are the Christ, the Messiah.”

Jesus warned them to keep it quiet, not to breathe a word of it to anyone. He then began explaining things to them: “It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the elders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and after three days rise up alive.” He said this simply and clearly so they couldn’t miss it.

But Peter grabbed him in protest. Turning and seeing his disciples wavering, wondering what to believe, Jesus confronted Peter. “Peter, get out of my way! Satan, get lost! You have no idea how God works.”

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?

 

Prayer
Lord God, our hope and trust,
you have made us for happiness.
When we seek it in glorious dreams
of prosperity, success and freedom from pain
help us to face the realities of real life.
Make us accept the uncertain darkness
of suffering and self-effacement
as the price to pay for light and joy.
Teach us the way of your Son Jesus Christ,
who died of his own free will,
that we might live and be happy.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.  Amen.

 

Reflection:

It’s time to decide for Jesus
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is presented as always on the move and his disciples walk behind him. They always paid much attention to what people said about him.
Several times in the Gospel, we read that the crowds and the disciples have put the question: “Who is this?” With today’s passage, Jesus reveals the mystery, answers the question on everyone’s mind and shows his true face. The episode is set in the vicinity of Caesarea Philippi, the city that Philip, one of the sons of Herod the Great.

Jesus poses two questions to his disciples: “Who do people say I am?” and, “Who do you say I am?” The first was about the ‘hear-says.’ But for the second, Peter surprised everyone and declared – “You are the Messiah.” The answer was perfect, but the only difference was about the type of the messiah that Peter had in mind. He expects a mighty ruler like David who would rule the world from the land of Palestine.

Mark wrote his Gospel for the Christians of Rome to invite them to evaluate the reasons that led them to believe in Jesus. The misconception in which Peter and the other eleven fell is always looming over all Christian communities. The professions of faith can be impeccable, but the question is what reasons do you hold for professing your faith? Is it to escape from pains and sufferings, for success in business or for social status and acceptance? If so, listen to Jesus telling you and me, “Get behind me satan!”

The Messiah of Jesus is bound to fail in the eyes of the world. He does not go to Jerusalem to scare off his enemies but to offer his own life. That would be a huge disappointment for the disciples. It’s not for this that they left the house, the boat, the family and followed the Master.

On behalf of all, Peter reacts, not for fear of sacrifices, but to win, not to lose. He does not feel like committing himself to an absurd project, that leads to failure. This could well be our own reaction too. It is much difficult to present ourselves as failures before the world. We always want to win.

Jesus’ response to Peter is harsh: “Get behind me, Satan!” (v. 33). His words do not mean “Go away!” Rather, if you are in the front, you could lose the track of my plan for life because you are driven by your desires for successes. But “Come behind me,” stay with me while I lead you in the right path.

 

Video available on Youtube: It’s time to decide for Jesus