THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Thursday of the sixth week in Ordinary time, 2022

Jams 2:1-9

Ps 34

Mark 8:27-33

Who do you say I am

Dear friends in Christ, like the Apostles, we have a serious decision to make on who Jesus is for us. Our follower-ship of him must not be based only on what we have heard from others. Who is Jesus for you?

In today’s Gospel (Mark 8:27-33), we come to a critical turning point in the public ministry of Jesus. The stage is set by the questions of Jesus concerning the people's opinion of his identity “who do men say that I am… But who do you say that I am.” The answer to the first question was perhaps uncoordinated. The disciples were just reporting what they had heard others say about their master—“John the Baptist, and others say Elijah, and others one of the prophets.” To the s, and question, which was directed to the Apostles themselves, it was Peter who spoke for the rest of the Apostles declaring rightly and confidently, "You are the Christ." That may not be unconnected with all Jesus had done in his teaching and the miracles he had worked among the people which corresponds with the writings of the prophets on the coming Messiah. Jesus however charged them not to tell anyone about their discovery—the messianic secrecy was still to continue.

Jesus, convinced now that the disciples have come to discover his Messianic role, was ready to move on to the final stage of His mission: "He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly." The clear implication is that he is ready now to hand over the remaining mission of the proclamation to the disciples and to face the cross. This was however not pleasing to Peter and perhaps the other followers present. So Peter called Jesus apart and began to plead with him not to take the path of suffering. While the Apostles have come to recognize him as the Messiah, what they expected next was not his death but for him to rescue the nation from the grip of the Romans—a political Messiah. Even if not exactly, they needed Jesus to be around for a longer period with them. That might fulfill the dream of the sons of Zebedee to sit at his right and his left in his kingdom.

Jesus however rebuked Peter publicly to send a clear message to the company of Apostles that the cross is an essential part of his mission and that of all who wish to be his disciples. They must abandon mere human wisdom and the concept of success and accept God’s plans for their lives. Jesus used a very strong term satan — meaning an adversary for Peter — before it came to be used for Satan—the great adversary of God and God’s people. Jesus is by this asking Peter not to be an adversary or oppose the divine plan which is for the salvation of the world through the death on the Cross. Who is Jesus for you?

Let us pray: We thank you Lord for your love for us. Give us a strong faith that will truly love you in return. Amen. 

+Remain blessed