24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
"But who do you say that I am?" (Mk. 8:27-35)
When one asks questions, one seeks to discover and understand a comment or an event. Although there are several other reasons people pose questions, one must pay close attention to the question when it comes to the Divine asking a question. Jesus is Divine, and he knows every word from our lips. Therefore, in Mark's gospel today, we must focus on the question that Jesus asks twice from different perspectives. Jesus was searching for something unique.
Look at Jesus' first question: "Who do people say that I am?" This question is intended for the audience. The second question, "But who do you say that I am?" seems more intentional, as if Jesus is looking for a personal testimony—the personal testimony of an individual who knows Jesus. And yet, many people may know Jesus' title and not his purpose.
Mark's gospel challenges us to know more than Jesus' title, we must know His plan. The Epistle James in our second reading gives us a glimpse of Jesus' plan. James said, "If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?" In other words, kind words or warm wishes do not fulfill the mission of Jesus; they exhibit only a dead faith. You must clothe the naked and feed the hungry. Christians who complete these actions demonstrate a witness of faith that is alive and fully active. We must embrace one of the most important themes of the Bible; we must attend to the poor, widows, and children in the world.
Knowing Jesus' title is not going to feed the hungry or clothe the naked. One must understand who Jesus is and the plan. Jesus, in Mark's gospel, reveals more clearly the plan after Peter correctly identifies Jesus as the Christ. We must be willing to deny ourselves, which means attending to the lonely, the outcasts, the forsaken, and the foreigner. When we pick up our cross and follow Jesus, we will save our lives and others by our faithful actions towards them. Jesus was looking for someone who understood the plan. Do you know the plan in following Jesus?
"You have faith and I have works. Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works."
Christians who, by faith, work Jesus' plan fulfills his mission.
Thank you for engaging with this blog. Should you find the content enriching, consider subscribing to Eat the Scroll Ministry for updates on our newest blog posts. Feel free to like and share this with someone you know. Evangelist/Professor Howard
Author: Evang./Prof. Michael Howard, MACS
Facilitator, University of Dayton, VLCFF,
University of Notre Dame, McGrath Institute, STEP Online,
Lead Faculty and Course Designer "The Presence of Black Catholics in the Church Today and Tomorrow" Loyola Marymount University,
Founder of Eat the Scroll Ministry
Comments