The 2nd Sunday of Advent  – 10 December 2023
Lectionary Readings: Is 40:1 – 5. 9 – 11;  Ps 85: 9 –14 ; 2 Pt 3: 8- 14 ; Mk 1: 1 – 8
Theme : Gospel of Jesus Christ , Son of God
I put my focal point on Mk. 1:1.  This first verse works as the title of the whole Gospel of Mark. Arché  is translated as “Beginning”  or  “ Origin” . In this case,  it can refer to the Good News  that Jesus announces, or to Jesus himself, as announcer or messenger.   The word  arché  evokes the origin story in Genesis, as it is in John´s Gospel, announcing  a new beginning in history.  When Mark uses this term, it is always related to the beginning of Creation  (Mk 10:6  and  Mk 13:19).
Benedict XVI states the following question:  “Is Jesus only an a messenger (….) or  is He, himself, the message? “ .  The Good News is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  The compound term “Jesus Christ”  as a personal name is characteristic of St. Paul, usually employed in his mission.  Mark could have taken this term from him, relating it to  “Son of God”.Â
Both titles, Christós and Bios Theou point to the mystery of Jesus, who asked a key question of his disciples: “Who do people say I am? (Mk 8:27) and “Who do you say I am? “ (Mk 8:29). Peter answered: “You are the Christ” , and at the end of the Gospel, the Centurion confesses:: “Truly, this man was the Son of God” (Mk 15:39). The Roman Title, Son of God could evoke the cult of the Emperor. During Jesus´ passion , the High Priest joins both titles , Christós(Massiah, anointed) and Son of God, accusing him of blasphemy and sentencing him to death.
I comment briefly on the meaning of the terms Gospel, Christ and Son of God: The Greek word Euaggelion(Besorah in Hebrew) derives from aggelos = announcer; the Hebrew term is mebasser. Isaiah uses it to point out the carrier (herald) of good news to Sion and to Jerusalem (Is 40:9).
ChristĂłs ( in hebrew Mashiah) derives from chriein = anoint, consecrate. In the First Testament , this term is used to consecrate a person as chosen by the LORD, such us Saul and David (I Samuel 10; I Samuel 16). The High Priest was ha-Cohen ha-Mashiah.
The term Son of God officially designated the Emperor. Julius Caesar was called “god” and was honored as such; he had his own temple and also a sculpture bearing an inscription “to the invincible god”. His successor Augustusadopted the title “son of god”. For the Roman world, the birth of Augustus (the birth of the god) was “the beginning of the good news” (euaggelion). The text of Mark, written in Greek, could evoke an alternative to that good news:announcing the birth of a new Emperor. Both terms, Mashiah and Son of God, could be a challenge and a provocation.
For Reflection and Discussion : . How do I answer the question of Jesus: “Who do you say I am? 2. Can I take the centurion’s confession as my own?
Bibliography :  Benedicto XVI (J. Ratzinger ) : Jesús de Nazaret , Madrid, (2007);   Hengel,M.  : El Hijo de Dios , Salamanca, (1978).
This week’s Sunday Liturgy Commentary was prepared by
ConcepciĂłn F. Vivas , Spain, Alumna in ISPS-Ratisbonne.
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