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

I Reading: James: 2:14-24.26: A body dies when it is separated from the spirit, and in the same say faith is dead if it is separated from good deeds.

Gospel: Mark 8:34-9:1: Anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.

The Issue of God and the Issues of Men

The issue of God and the issues of men differ radically. This passage shows just how much they differ, and as such it warns every person.

We have three important words to understand and follow Jesus Christ:

1.     “Would” (Greek-thelei): to desire, wish, design, purpose, resolve, determine. It is a deliverate willing, a deliverate choice, a determined resolve to follow Christ. The choice is voluntary, individual choice that wills and chooses and must act and do personally.

2.     “Denying self” (Greek-aparneomai): means the person enters a new state or condition. It means let him/her at once begin to “deny self.”  

3.     “Follow” (Greek-akolootheo): means seeking to be union with and in the likeness of. It is following Christ, seeking to be just like him. This is not a passive behaviour, but an active commitment and walk. It is energy and effort, action and work. It is going after Christ with zeal and energy, struggling and seeking to follow in his footsteps no matter the cost. Note that his steps lead to death before they lead to glory (Mt 16:21).

1.     Jesus spoke to all, both to the people and to his disciples (v.34)

2.     The issue of discipleship: Indulging self vs. denying self (34)

3.     The issue of life: Saving life vs. losing life (35)

4.     The issue of value: Gaining the world vs. saving the soul (36-37)

5.     The issue of the Messiah: Being ashamed of Christ vs. confessing Christ (38)

6.     The issue of death: Tasting death vs. seeing God’s kingdom (9:1)

Thought: A person either tastes death or sees God’s kingdom with power:

i.                   Most men walk in death (Jn 6:53; Eph 5:14; 1Tim 5:6; Rev 3:1).

ii.                 Some men experience the saving power of God’s kingdom (Mt 19:23-24; Lk 15:32; Eph 2:1; Col 2:13; Jn 8:52; Heb 2:9).