September 12, 2021
Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
It would be difficult to miss the connection between the symbolism of the First Reading (Isa. 50:5-9a) and the narrative of the Gospel from Mark (8:27-35) for today. This is where we find one of the three passion predictions made by Jesus to his disciples.
The reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a victim, an Israelite often known as the Suffering Servant, who describes the suffering from his enemies that he endures even though he is obedient to the word of God. He insists, “I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me. My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.” (Isa. 50:6).
One would be hard pressed not to notice the details in Isaiah which are also found in the passion narratives: the torture and beating, the scourging at the pillar, the mockery and the jeering and spitting in the face of Jesus. Yet the Suffering Servant maintains his trust in God: “See the Lord God is my help, who will prove me wrong.” (Isa. 50:9a).
When we turn to the Gospel, Jesus is traveling to Caesarea and Philippi with his disciples. On the way he asks them, “Who do people say that I am?” {Mk. 8:27). The crowds who have been following Jesus have yet to determine his true identity. They think he could be John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the other prophets.
But then he asks the disciples directly, “Who do you say that I am?” (Mk. 8:29a). Peter, the leader and spokesperson for the group does not hesitate with his response. He proclaims, “You are the Christ.” (Mk. 8:29b). These are words that have only been revealed to Peter by God, for he will later go on to contradict the identity of the servant as defined by Jesus.
Jesus continues to tell his followers that as the Son of Man, the divine representative of God, he will eventually suffer greatly, be rejected, and be killed by the Jewish leaders in cooperation with the Romans, only to rise again on the third day. This is where Peter takes exception and refuses to believe Jesus. He thinks that as the messiah Jesus should be a warrior, a king, or a powerful political leader. But Jesus rebukes Peter. He tells him, “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Mk. 8:33).
One might wonder why Jesus had to endure such a degrading and painful death, the worst type of execution of the time. First, his enemies wanted to make a spectacle of his condemnation and an example of his death to dissuade others from revolting.
But foremost, as the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus wanted to show us that God endured our human suffering and continues to do so on our behalf. He experienced love, friendship, hope, comfort, and a host of other human emotions. But he also experienced pain, anguish, suffering, abandonment, and defeat on behalf of others by accepting the sins of the world on the cross.
This is Jesus, the anointed one and messiah who trusts in the Sovereign Lord for vindication. He is the one who brings redemption to the human race, the Suffering Servant of Isaiah who restores the world.
As Christians and members of his body we are asked to be co-workers in these endeavors to bring about the work of Christ in our Church and the hope of the salvation of the suffering servant by offering ourselves for the needs of those around us, despite the pain we might endure.
Jesus gives us the perfect instructions with his conditions for discipleship today: “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.” (Mk. 8:34b-35).
