First Reading: Isaiah 50:5-9a/Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 116:1-2.3-4.5-6.8-9 (R. 9) Second Reading: James 2:14-18/Gospel Acclamation: Galatians 6:14/Gospel: Mark 8:27-35
Theme: What Kind Of Messiah Am I
As baptised Christians and followers of Christ Jesus, we are in our own little ways, messiahs – anointed people! Today’s readings will help us to understand this point. In the first reading, the song of the Suffering Servant is sung. While he highlights the ordeals meted out to him by fellow human beings, the Suffering Servant is confident that God will not abandon him to the whims and caprices of his enemies. So, he sings: “I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been confounded; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me?… Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty?” (Is. 50:6-9). For this reason, St. Paul identifies with the Suffering Servant and chooses to glory in nothing else except the cross of Christ, a symbol of suffering and death (cf. Gal. 6:14). This firm faith and confident trust of the Suffering Servant is beautifully captured when King David sings: “He has kept my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling. I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living” (Ps. 116:8-9). This is strong faith!
What kind of faith are we talking about, one may ask? In the second reading, St. James says: “Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead” (Jas. 2:17). James is saying that genuine Christian faith is practical, that is, it shows forth in actions. Faith and effort must go hand in hand to ensure a well[1]balanced life. Hence, James queries: “Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith” (Jas. 2:18). We need to come to terms with the fact that no one can be saved by works alone, and neither will anyone be saved without producing works. According to William Barclay, “Faith is bound to overflow into action; and action begins only when a man has faith in some great cause or principle which God has presented to him.” Again, Jesus says in the Gospel: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life, will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospel’s will save it” (cf. Mk. 8:34-35). Consequently, expressing our faith in concrete actions entails the cross, that is, difficulties and challenges for the sake of God. Yet, if we imitate the example of Christ, we will be given the strength to endure to the finish.
Furthermore, to understand how we can carry the cross, Jesus takes his closest friends, the inner circle of collaborators, the Twelve Apostles, through a path from the general to the particular. It is something we would call today as opinion poll. To walk this trajectory and to accept it requires a relationship, not just of intellectual knowledge, but necessarily, of experiential knowledge. He begins by asking: “Who do men say that I [Jesus] am?”(Mk. 8:27). Of course, such a general question will elicit general answers, and so they reply: “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others one of the prophets” (Mk. 8:28). Then comes the more particular, direct and personal question: “But you, who do you say that I am?” (Mk. 8:29). To this, Simon Peter takes up the challenge and answers: “You are the Christ” (Mk. 8:29). Peter’s response is apt, a reflection that he has an intimate and personal relationship with Jesus, and that, he truly knows who Jesus is. Consequently, Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ (i.e. Messiah in Hebrew, which means the ‘Anointed One’) leads Jesus to go a step further to explain the kind of Messiah he is. Jesus does not need to establish himself and his mission in the world, but has to ask this question in order to establish a better understanding of his person and mission. We need to bear in mind that the Jews expected a political Messiah, one who will fight for their freedom from centuries of imperial domination and occupation (cf. Is.9:7, 11:1; Jer.22:4, 23:5, 30:9; 4 Ezra 9:3, 12:32-33,13:33-35). At the time of Jesus, the Romans had taken over Palestine. Jesus, knows this too well, and so, begins immediately to correct that impression. He orders, better still, charges them to “tell no one about him” (Mk. 8:30). So, if he is not a political Messiah, what kind of Messiah is he? Jesus begins to describe how the Son of Man, the Spiritual Messiah, will suffer many things culminating in his rejection, beating, crucifixion, death and ultimate resurrection.
Upon hearing about these sufferings, Peter, dismayed at Jesus, remonstrates with him. Be that as it may, Jesus is so firm and uncompromising, to the extent that, he rebukes Simon Peter calling him Satan (which means Tempter). Let us note that in this same passage, Peter, led by the Spirit of God, is able to tell exactly who Jesus is. Nonetheless, Peter gives in to temptation in his bid to prevent Jesus from dying to save us. This is a great lesson for us, that, sometimes, especially in difficult situations, the tempter can speak in the voice of a very close friend to oppose God’s will for us. So, who do we listen to and what kind of advice do we stick to in our daily lives? Is it the voice of God or those around us? We need the Holy Spirit at all times to inspire our thoughts, words and actions. We need to be patient, careful and cautious anytime our counsel is sought. If we have nothing to say or have not thought through things very well, it is better to keep quiet!
Beloved in Christ, let us note that Jesus connects Messiahship with suffering and death. The Messiah is a Suffering Servant. It is all about sacrifice, self-donation, self-emptying (kenosis), servant leadership and responsible governance. Unfortunately today, we have so-called messiahs whose selfish, insensitive and power-drunk egos do not allow them to be at the service of people. They can be found basically in politics but not limited to it. In all human endeavours, be it social or religious, as well as institutions which involve leader-the led relationships, false messiahs are not uncommon to find. In all the readings today, Isaiah, the Psalmist, St. James and St. Mark are very clear about the role of the Suffering Servant. St. James would even insist that if someone believes he has faith, such a person must understand that it is only through deeds or actions that faith can prove and demonstrate itself. If anyone sees themselves as messiahs, they should make every effort beyond reasonable doubt that they are in to sacrifice and serve others. They should also acknowledge that it is only through faith that deeds will be attempted and done. Parents should be seen discharging their responsibilities adequately. Pastors should be seen feeding their sheep and not the reverse. Workers must portray that they are worth their salaries. Politicians and governments must bring dividends of good governance and development to their constituents.
We are called to imitate Jesus as the true Messiah. We are to be messiahs in the true sense of the word. We must be the anointed ones commissioned by God and who are ready to work on behalf of others. May God bless our families, churches, nations and the world with authentic messiahs. Happy Sunday and may God bless us! Remember to ask: #What-Kind-Of-Messiah-Am-I#
