24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 15, 2024

Lectionary Readings: Is. 5:4-9; Ps. 116, 1-2. 3-4, 5-6. 8-9; Jas. 2:14-18; Mk. 8:27-35

Theme: Who is Jesus?

The gospel reading inspired me to ask members of my family this question: Who is Jesus? I asked this after we had our Liturgical Bible Study (LBS) for the Readings of the 24^th Sunday in Ordinary Time. We are members of the Family Disciples of the Word and we have been doing a weekly LBS of the forthcoming Sunday readings since March 2020.  My 10-year nephew Brother Kian, the youngest member of our LBS, said: “Jesus is my loving and helpful savior.”  His older brothers, Bro. Kai and Karl Simon, respectively said “Jesus is my savior and checker, who guides me to follow the right way”; and “Jesus is my savior who listens to me like a friend who is always there for me.” Their older first cousin, Sister Yani, also said Jesus is her savior, moral compass and friend.

     In the Gospel, Jesus asked his disciples the question “Who do people say that I am?”   Peter’s answer, “You are the Christ.” is correct for us Christians today because we believe Jesus is the Christ. But something seems off because Jesus warned the disciples not to tell anyone of his answer.   And Jesus rebuked Peter with the harsh words, “Get behind me, Satan!” which reminds us of what he had said to the tempter in the desert.

 The word Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Mashiah or Messiah and both mean “the anointed one.” But there are different images of the Messiah awaited by the Jews.  According to  Rabbi Arthur Green, these include a child who grows up to rule in peace (Isaiah 9:5), judge and descendant of King David (Isaiah 11:1-4),  skilled judge (Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 93b), a successful philosopher, king or general (Maimonides, Laws of Kings 11:3-4, uncensored version). He also says there is the belief of no messiah but just of a messianic age.  A popular image of the Messiah during the time of Jesus was that of a future king (royal messianism) or as Daniel’s son of man (apocalyptic messianism).

     In the Gospel, Jesus described himself as the Son of Man who will suffer greatly and be rejected, be killed and rise after three days.  From the Book of Daniel, the Son of Man is to come at the end of times. Dressed in white, he sat on a throne in judgment in his everlasting kingdom. “The Son of Man came … to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

    We don’t know Peter’s concept of the Messiah but it is clear he is not on the same page with Jesus. This must be why he got rebuked by Jesus and Jesus gave the command not to tell others about him as the Messiah. Scholars call this command ‘the messianic secret’.  Why? Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, the Pontifical Household Preacher, says “The motive is clear. Jesus accepts being identified with the awaited Messiah, but not with the idea that the prevailing Judaism had made for itself of the Messiah.” He is not the awaited political and military liberator of Israel through the use of force.

    The early Catholic Church is unanimous in proclaiming that Jesus of Nazareth is the awaited Messiah. Today, during the Mass, we say when we recite the Apostles Creed, Jesus is the Son of God the Father. We acclaim:  (Jesus) ‘Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again’.  As for my niece and nephews, he is our past, present and future savior.  And we await his second coming.

For Reflection and Discussion: 1. Who is Jesus to you? 2.  What are practical ways to follow Him in your day-to-day life?

Bibliography: Cantalamessa, Who Do You Say That I am? In www.zenit.org; Harrington,ed.  The Gospel of Mark (Minnesota, 2002), Rabbi Green, Who is the Messiah, inhttps://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/who-is-the-messiah/

This week’s Sunday Liturgy Commentary was prepared by
Minerva Generalao, Philippines, Bat Kol Alumna July 2014 and July 2023

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