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    • 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
    Cycle B
    2000

    First Reading
    Isaiah 50:4-9

    The Lord God opens my ear that I may hear And I have not rebelled, have not turned back.  I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.  The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. He is near who upholds my right; if anyone wishes to oppose me, let us appear together.  Who disputes my right?  Let him confront me.  See, the Lord God is my help; who will prove me wrong?

    Second Reading
    James 2:14-18

    My brothers, what good is it to profess faith without practicing it? Such faith has no power to save one, has it? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and no food for the day, and you say to them, "Good-bye and good luck! Keep warm and well fed," but do not meet their bodily needs, what good is that? So it is with the faith that does nothing in practice. It is thoroughly lifeless.  To such a person one might say, "You have faith and I have work -- is that it?" Show me your faith without works, and I will show you the faith that underlies my works!

    Gospel
    Mark  8:27-35

    Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples this question: "Who do people say that I am?" They replied, "Some, John the Baptizer, others, Elijah, still others, one of the prophets." "And you," he went on to ask, "who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah!" Then he strictly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.  He then began to teach them that the Son of Man had to suffer much, be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, be put to death, and rise three days later. He said this quite openly. Peter then took him aside and began to remonstrate with him. At this he turned around and, eyeing the disciples, reprimanded Peter in turn: "Get out of my sight, you satan! You are not judging by God's standards but by man's!"  He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them: "If a man wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self, take up his cross, and follow in my steps. Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it."

    Text from Lectionary for Mass
    © 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine
    © 1969 International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc.
    All rights reserved

    My Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

     

    Last Sunday the readings were very clear that Jesus changes the lives of those who want to follow Him.  Today, we come to know more about how our lives are changed.  We must be willing to suffer if we want to follow Christ.

    These readings do not tell us to look for suffering.  Jesus is not someone who goes around looking for opportunities to suffer, nor should we.  Rather, Jesus follows the will of His father and because of that, suffering comes into His life. 

    What kidn of suffering will come our way?  We can think of the times when we are with others and people begin to discuss others or begin to discuss the death penalty or begin to speak about any topic of modern morality.  What suffering it is to strive to really speak profoundly about what the Church teaches and the wisdom of that teaching!

    Some--even Catholics, of course--no longer accept what the Church teaches in many areas.  Those of us who are convinced that Christ lives in the Church, however, strive to find ways to artciulate the wisdom of the Church's teaching--and we suffer ridicule for it many times.  Sometimes we suffer a simple rejection by others; other times we are made fun of; and sometimes we are really put to shame.

    The most difficult rejection for us Christians, at times, is the rejection we can suffer at the hands of fellow Christians.  This is close, in some ways, to Jesus' own suffering at the hands of his fellow believers. 

    Jesus reminds us that if we want to follow him, we will suffer.  In the letter of James we are encouraged to practice our faith, to make our faith the deep basis of all of our actions.  This requires purity of heart from us, since it is so often easier to believe and do nothing that might cause us discomfort.

    When we belong to a parish and find that the pastor is doing things that should not be done, we are put to the test.  When we live in a family and find that one of our parents is doing things that should not be done, we are in a very difficult position.  In any religious community, it is difficult to act in charity towards others who are doing what is not right.  It is a challenge even to speak and often we are encouraged not to speak, but to remain silent.

    May God help us this Sunday to know what we do believe, to act in accordance with our belief and to have the courage to speak up rather than be silent when we are put to the test. 

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    © 2000 The Monastery of Christ in the Desert