Twenty Fourth Sunday of
the year – September 12, 2021
Isaiah 50:5-9; James
2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35
A little Chinese girl about eight years old was a close observer of the Missionary priest of their village church. She used to watch him at his prayers in the church, listened closely to his teaching and preaching, and watched him as he went about visiting the sick or consoling those in sorrow and pain. She stopped with him and cheered people as he greeted them in the street. He always had a kind word, a smile, a little advice for the young, and sometimes a sweet for the children. One day the girl went to the neighboring village. They were having catechism that day and the Sister was telling them of the man who was always kind, who helped the sick, cheered up those discouraged and sad, and who always went about doing well. Noticing the strange girl the Sister asked her if she knew who this person was. The girl quickly replied: “He is the Missionary Father from our Village.”
The first reading
tells us about the Suffering Servant. Prophet Isaiah presents several
fascinating portrayals of the servant of the Lord. He suffers abuses from all
sides and is challenged from all over. Perhaps these conditions reflect the
experience of Israel in exile where they had to face constant disgrace and
confrontation. But the servant is not swayed by such hardships. Confident in a strong relationship with God,
the servant is prepared for any challenge. They strike him on his face, spit on
him, and pluck his beard. Yet the
servant’s resolve is not shaken. He remains unmoved in the face of adversities.
It is the Lord God alone who will be the help and support to him. His is the
example of living faith that tells us to set our hearts on Divine things so we
too can enjoy a priceless personal relationship with the Lord God.
Today’s Gospel seeks
to give us the true identity of Jesus and invites us to make our personal
discovery of the master. For the
disciples, it was indeed a new revelation. Jesus by now had already spent more
than two years in his public ministry. The disciples had gone along with him
and were getting to know him personally in his teaching, his healing, his
liberating power, and his authority. He
had a large crowd following him everywhere and had a faithful band of disciples
who were constantly with him, helping him and supporting him. They had lived
with him, listened to his teachings, seen his miracles, and had become part of
his life. The question for the master is
whether they really understood his mission and the proclamation of the kingdom.
He had a mission to fulfill as given by the Father and he had called them to be
a part of that mission. On their way to
the villages of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus began asking his disciples, about the
reaction of the people about him and how they were interpreting his presence,
teaching, and his works. They responded by saying that some believed he was
John the Baptist, other Elijah, and still others, one of the prophets. People
accepted him as a spiritual person and the one who was preaching things divine.
They were also aware that Elijah had not tasted death and believed he would
return to show the path of the Messiah.
What do we really
understand from today’s Gospel? A disciple is one who understands the Master,
follows him closely, imitates his life, and communicates it to others. Here we
find Jesus proclaiming almost the reversal of what most people would expect.
Jesus himself is the model of discipleship. He explains that discipleship is
not about achieving power, prestige, or high position. It is ultimately about
service, giving one’s life for others.
Ironically discipleship involves losing one’s life or giving it away in
service of others, which will result in actually gaining one’s life through
following in the footsteps of Jesus.
Following the Lord
also demands for a new way of thinking. We need to understand as God sees them.
For our eyes things look foolish. For instance, leaving everything and
following the Lord in poverty, being truthful and sincere in our day today
life. The consequence of this is what we heard in the story. The people witness
in us a true follower.
(You are most welcome
to add your thoughts and reflections in the comment section below)
Happy Sunday
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