Jesus is my Savior: Is 50:5-9a; Js 2:14-18; Mk 8:27-35 (B 24)

 

Jesus is my Savior

Is 50:5-9a; Js 2:14-18; Mk 8:27-35 (B 24)

“A sword of sorrows pierced her blameless heart” (DO)

 

Today’s gospel reading is the central turning point of the Gospel of Mark that presents Jesus as a healer, exorcist, wonderworker, displaying an “authority”. This throws the Pharisees into confusion. The meaning of his activities resulted in a host of conflicting interpretations. That’s why Jesus questioned his disciples: “Who do you say that I am?”  Peter by the grace of God professed that Jesus was truly the “Christ of God” – “the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). The Greek word “Christos” or “Messiah” in Hebrew literally means “the Anointed One” – to redeem the fallen human race (Lk 9:20, Acts 2:14-36).

Jesus perhaps wanted to learn how people define him and clarify his own identity. When John the Baptist asked, “Are you he who is to come or should we look for another”? (Mt 11:3; Lk 7:19), Jesus did not answer directly but pointed to the signs of his healing. This can be interpreted as messianic signs. Jesus, learning about the necessity of the Cross points to the Servant songs in Isaiah foretelling that the Messiah must be a man of sorrow: “I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting” (50:6)

Faithfulness to his mission cost him his life. When Jesus began to articulate this reality, Peter rebuked Jesus. Peter could not accept the otherness of Jesus. Peter was comfortable in telling Jesus who he was, but when Jesus began to reveal himself who he really was, he became distinctly uncomfortable. Today, Jesus tells us “No cross, no crown.” There can be no Easter without Good Friday. What is the “cross” that you and I must take up each day?

Like Jesus we are called to deny ourselves and take up the cross for the sake of others. Our every action has divine significance for others. Maybe we don’t wreck ourselves up by taking drugs or getting drunk! Why? Not just out of self-respect, which is important, but because there are others for whom our health is important. Young people refrain from sex outside of marriage not because of the Church law but they can give themselves totally to those persons they commit to for life. The married remain faithful as one of many ways of declaring their love for their spouse. And the consecrated remain faithful to their vows. Christianity is not self-centered love. A Christian is called to be “alter Christus”.

Can you and I answer now, who is Jesus for us? The Catechism reminds us that ‘the Church progresses on her pilgrimage amidst the persecutions of the world (temptations of the world) and the consolations of God’ (n. 769). This is the path to follow Christ and to make him known: “Whoever wishes to come after me... take up his cross and follow me” (Mk 8:34). May the Holy Spirit give each of us the gifts and strength to live the Gospel faithfully. God bless you. 

“For if he could die in body, could she not die with him in spirit?” (DO)