SUNDAY- 24^th WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME –B

Gospel: Mark 8:27-35: You are the Christ. The Son of Man is destined to suffer grievously.

I Reading: Isaiah 50:5-9: I offered my back to those who struck me.

II Reading: James 2:14-18: If good works do not go with faith, it is quite dead.

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

The first reading and the gospel explain about the suffering servant. In the second reading St James assets that faith without works is dead. In the gospel Jesus predicts about his suffering, passion, death and resurrection; and he encourages his disciples or followers to follow his way by renouncing oneself and taking up his own cross. The passage further discovers the identity of Jesus. Who is Jesus? Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God, the suffering servant and the saviour of the world.

Jesus deliberately set out to make sure that the disciples saw Him as God’s Messiah and not man’s Messiah and a way of power and pleasure. He had to make sure they understood God’s way of salvation and plan that God was after victory over death and a life that lasted eternally, not just for seventy or so many years.

The present passage is one of the most dramatic revelations ever made and 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 Philipi (v.27):

The Greek God of nature is PAN, the God being called PANIAS. Herod the great had built the temple in worship of Caesar. Herod’s son Philip who adorned the temple with the magnificence for which it was known world-wide. It was Philip who changed the name of the city from Panias to Caesarea and added his own name calling the city Caesarea Philipi. It was against this background of religion Jesus asked the question, “who do people say I am? Who do you say I am?” and Peter made is great discovery and confession: Jesus is the Christ, the real Messiah.

a. He visited the village

b. He questioned the people’s belief about himself

2. The confession of people: He is a great man like: John the Baptist, Elijah and one of the prophets (v.28)

3. The confession of his disciples: He is the Christ, the true Messiah, Son of the living God (v.29)

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

Thought: Confession is just the beginning of our spiritual journey. We must be accurate in what we study and we must we accurate in what we share, making certain that we share the truth.

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 23^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time-B

I Reading: Isaiah 35:4-7: Isaiah rejoices in the hope of Israel’s return from exile. Among the first to enjoy the blessings of restoration will be those who are deaf or dumb, blind or lame.

II Reading: James 2:1-5: James points out the contradiction of believing in Christ yet treating those who are poor as inferior.

Gospel: Mark 7:31-37: The miracle reflects the first reading and is a sign that Jesus fulfils the Old Testament prophesies about the coming of the Messiah.

Today’s three reading express the messianic act of Jesus as the Son of God.

Let us reflect upon two questions:

Why is God so attached to the needy, poor and suffering people? Because of their strong faith in God and total dependency upon God’s providence and blessings.

What must we do to follow Jesus Christ or the message of the gospel? We must love Jesus with our whole heart, mind and strength and love our neighbours as ourselves. Preferential option for the poor, sinners, and outcastes or marginalised in the society.

The Verdict Sought for One’s Service: Doing Everything Well, Mk 7:31-37

The verdict Christ wants pronounced upon every man is, “He has done everything well” (Mk 7:37). “Well done you good and faithful servant” (Mt 25:21). How can we be assured of such a verdict by God? Jesus shows us how in this passage.

1. He looks after his own personal needs and the needs of his loved ones (the disciples (v.31)

2. He listened to the pleas of the people for help (v.32)

3. He was considerate of the feelings and conditions of others (v.33)

4. He trusted God for power (v.34-35)

5. He sought no personal applause or praise of people (v.36)

6. He demanded a verdict: “He has done everything well” (v.37)

 

Thought: The source of the man’s healing was Jesus. Therefore believers must use everything at their disposal to proclaim Jesus as the source of People’s deliverance (salvation).

The miracle was two things:

1) It was proof that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God himself. Isaiah had predicted such miracles of the Messiah (Is 35:5-6; Lk 4:18-19,21; Acts 10:38).

2) It was demonstration of tender consideration for the needs and feelings of others-a strong lesson for every believer (Mt 20:28; Jn 20:21; Heb 13:3).

We cannot understand God’s plan unless He reveals to us. Only the Spirit can help us to understand God’s plans of love for us; only He can give us the strength to follow Christ.

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com