Recognizing God as God

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 12 September 2021

Readings: Isaiah 50:5-9a; Psalm 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35

To listen to my audio reflections, please click here

In a world of too many ideologies, gurus and philosophies, it is quite difficult to find the right one that suits us. This arduous task can be fulfilled only when we have experienced something eternal and lasting in that ideology or philosophy or guru. Even though choosing the right thing that satisfies our interest, way of being and going about is a challenge yet we can follow a path that has fullness, holiness and eternity. However, it is a lifetime’s task to come to understand these truths about our identities, and to live them out daily and to the end. The liturgical readings of this Sunday invite us to respond to God’s saving grace that we can renounce the limitations of our old self, our former identity, and be transformed into a new creation.

1. Recognition confirms the ground reality

In today's Gospel, Mark 8:27-35 Jesus is posing a very important but personal question to his disciples: “'But you', Jesus asked ‘who do you say I am?'” (Mark 8:35). The answers are varied. Even though only the response of Peter is recorded here,  one thing is certain in the life of the disciples. They all have one voice regarding Peter's confession. They acknowledge who Jesus is. Almost as a spokesperson of the group of disciples, Peter makes Jesus happy with the right answer. 

Recognizing a person with his capabilities, talents and moreover who he is or she is important for a healthy life in a family, community, Church and society. In fact, recognition is an important sociological and psychological factor in our society. By recognizing a person in a particular situation or community enhances not only his or her services to the said community but also encourages the person to do more. This is what exactly happens in the life of Jesus in his public ministry. Jesus needed some sort of assessment, acknowledgment, a kind of feedback about him and his ministry among the people. The statement of Peter is, indeed, works as a confirmation of what Jesus was doing.

2. Never alone when God is with us

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:34–35). The enormous challenge that Jesus puts before his disciples is staggering. Is it possible to deny oneself and take up the cross and follow him so easily? It is the call of Christ. It is a call of our Lord to follow him. Moreover, the reward of our Lord is certain when we do such things. That is if you follow the Lord or the gospel you will be saved. In other words, God will be there even when there are things, which are bitter, bad and boiling. God will be at our side when we follow and preach that Gospel of our Lord, of justice and peace, of liberty and truth. It is the Lord who enhances our energies and talents, our struggles will be turned into joy, our anxieties and fears will be turned into courage and strength. 

In this task of following the Christ crucified involves constant renunciation. In other words, it is turning from a lesser to a better, and more complete self. This involves unmaking and remaking of our attachments and values, convictions and commitments. Even though we might remain the same person throughout our earthly journey but we would certainly change our perspectives, directions and vistas to a reality that is truly salvific and eternal. Therefore Jesus invites us to take up our crosses, forgoing our selfish egoistic tendencies to embrace that is something which brings holistic and realistic meaning to our life. In this human drama of death and life circles, renunciation is indeed a call to be attached to Christ, to be deeply rooted in Christ. Any kind of separations that lead us because of our unwillingness to take up the sufferings, discrimination, persecution and even martyrdom is itself denying the Lord whom we have accepted at our Baptism. In this light the words of prophet Isaiah can be a soothing balm to our painful reality of life: 

The Lord comes to my help,
so that I am untouched by the insults.
So, too, I set my face like flint;

I know I shall not be shamed. (Isaiah 50:7)

3. Faltering in time of consolation

One of the starkest realities of life is such that when a person is in consolations quickly that moment could be turned into desolation. Soon after Peter gets a pat on the back from his master, he falters terribly when Jesus begins to speak about his passion, death and resurrection. Therefore, Jesus quickly admonishes Peter saying that he is under the influence of Satan! Jesus rebukes Peter who had just then confessed Jesus as Messiah: “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men.” (Mark 8: 33). What does this mean for us? Did we have similar experiences of denial of our Lord when things did not go on well? 

Sometimes in spite of study, reflections, prayer and consultations we too can falter to recognize who really God is for us. The disciple who is called the rock on whom the Church will be built quickly loses sight of Jesus in spite of witnessing Jesus' powerful words and deeds. Therefore the question always in front of us is to decide who Jesus truly is. How much Jesus matters me? In fact, Jesus reveals a different portrait calling himself as the Son of Man; Jesus is, in fact, more than a prophet. As long as the challenges are not on our way everything seems to be smooth and steady until we recognize that there are roadblocks, which are deadly and pernicious. Therefore we need prophets like Jesus who admonish us, straighten us up. So that we never lose sight of the track that is meant for us to reach eternity.

Questions for reflections
1. Who is Jesus for me?
2. How ready am I being called to renounce myself and take up my daily cross?
3. Am I committed to support others in carrying of their crosses through my loving self-sacrifice?
4. In my daily life, how am I challenged to think as God thinks and not as the world thinks; not as I would like to think?

5. Where in my life does my faith flow outwards into works?

Prayer:

Gracious Lord, you are the Christ, one who came to liberate and bring us salvation. Help us Lord in our journey which calls us to be generous in our service and loving renunciation. Be our strength in our willingness to follow you through faith. Dear Lord, just as you stood by your faithful in times of challenge we too may be ready to do what is possible in our hands. Help us to see the bigger picture of our lives so that you may grant us the wisdom in knowing what is good and the strength in doing what is good. We make this prayer in Jesus's name. AMEN.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

11 September 2021

PS: I had a number of queries regarding last Sunday's reflections (23rd Sunday) which I could not post. I am grateful to you. In fact, I was on a home visit and unfortunately while publishing my reflections on my blog something went wrong with the internet resulting in getting deleted almost 60% of what I had written. I usually work directly on the blog using the internet. I didn't take the liberty of working again on the reflections!