Thursday: 6^th Week in Ordinary Time-B:

I Reading: James: 2:1-9: Did not God choose those who are poor? But you have no respect for anybody who is poor.

Gospel: Mark 8:27-33: You are the Christ. The Son of Man is destined to suffer grievously.

The Great Confession of Peter: Who Jesus is (Mk 8:27-30)

Most men want a leader who is going to bring about utopian society that will provide social justice and plenty for everyone. What men want is a Messiah who fits into the wants and passions and power structures of their world.

Jesus deliberately set out to make sure that the disciples saw him as God’s Messiah and not man’s Messiah. God’s Messiah and salvation was not man’s way of power and pleasure; it was not leaving the future to take care of itself (deeper study Mt 1:1; 2-1:18; 3-3:11; 11:1-6; 12:16; 22:42).

Jesus facing the end very soon and there was still much to teach the disciples. It was time for them to learn that he was building a church-an assembly of people who would be confessing him to be the Messiah. It is one the most demanding questions ever asked. The answer given determines one’s eternal destiny and requires a single answer: “You are the Christ.”

1.     Jesus in Caesarea Philippi (v.27)

a.     He visited the village

b.    He questioned the people’s belief about himself

2.     The confession of men: He is a great man (28)

3.     The confession of his disciples: He is the Christ (29)

4.     The need: To learn about God’s Messiah (30)

The First prediction of Death: God’s Messiah vs. Man’s Messiah (31-33)

God’s Messiah and man’s Messiah differ.

1.     The Way of God’s Messiah (v.31)

a.     Involves suffering and death

b.    Involves the resurrection from the dead

2.     The Way of Man’s Messiah (32-33)

a.     Involves rejecting God’s Messiah

b.    Involves following the way of Satan

c.      Involves setting the mind on material things, not on the things of God  

Thought: Confession is just the beginning of our spiritual journey. We need to study and learn about Christ after coming to know him personally. Note two things:

i.                   We must be accurate in what we study. We must make sure we learn the truth and not error (Mk 8:15)

ii.                 We must be accurate in what we share, making certain that we share the truth. This necessitates time to study and grow before we begin sharing. (1 Pet 2:2-3; Acts 17: 11; 20:32; 2Tim 2:15; 2Pet 3:18)