Take up the Cross

24th Sunday In Ordinary Time
13 September 2015

First reading	Isaiah 50:5-9 ©

The Lord has opened my ear.

For my part, I made no resistance,

neither did I turn away.

I offered my back to those who struck me,

my cheeks to those who tore at my beard;

I did not cover my face

against insult and spittle.

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.

My vindicator is here at hand. Does anyone start proceedings against me?

Then let us go to court together.

Who thinks he has a case against me?

Let him approach me.

The Lord is coming to my help,

who will dare to condemn me?

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Psalm
Psalm 114:1-6,8-9 ©

I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

I love the Lord for he has heard

  the cry of my appeal;

for he turned his ear to me

  in the day when I called him.

I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

They surrounded me, the snares of death,

  with the anguish of the tomb;

they caught me, sorrow and distress.

  I called on the Lord’s name.

O Lord, my God, deliver me!

I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

How gracious is the Lord, and just;

  our God has compassion.

The Lord protects the simple hearts;

  I was helpless so he saved me.

I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

He has kept my soul from death,

  my eyes from tears

  and my feet from stumbling.

I will walk in the presence of the Lord

  in the land of the living.

I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

---

Second reading	James 2:14-18 ©

Take the case, my brothers, of someone who has never done a single good act but claims that he has faith. Will that faith save him? If one of the brothers or one of the sisters is in need of clothes and has not enough food to live on, and one of you says to them, ‘I wish you well; keep yourself warm and eat plenty’, without giving them these bare necessities of life, then what good is that? Faith is like that: if good works do not go with it, it is quite dead.

  This is the way to talk to people of that kind: ‘You say you have faith and I have good deeds; I will prove to you that I have faith by showing you my good deeds – now you prove to me that you have faith without any good deeds to show.’

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Gospel Acclamation	Jn14:6

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord;

No one can come to the Father except through me.

Alleluia!

Or	Ga6:14

Alleluia, alleluia!

The only thing I can boast about is the cross of our Lord,

through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.

Alleluia!

---

Gospel	Mark 8:27-35 ©

Jesus and his disciples left for the villages round Caesarea Philippi. On the way he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say I am?’ And they told him. ‘John the Baptist,’ they said ‘others Elijah; others again, one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he asked ‘who do you say I am?’ Peter spoke up and said to him, ‘You are the Christ.’ And he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him.

  And he began to teach them that the Son of Man was destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be put to death, and after three days to rise again; and he said all this quite openly. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. But, turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said to him, ‘Get behind me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.’

  He called the people and his disciples to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.’

Reflection:

by Art Reyes.


Jesus asks His disciples about His identity: “Who do people say that I am?”

Have you met an old friend after a long time and unable to remember his name? It is embarrassing to even ask his name, isn't it? You however, still awkwardly ask: “Hi Ricky, how is your wife and kids doing?” And this man replied: “Hello, I am Johnny and happily single.”

In the presentation of the life and ministry of Jesus found in the Gospel of Mark, the deeds of Jesus have shown Jesus to be the Son of God. Yet many, including Jesus' disciples, have not yet realized His identity.
This Sunday's reading also outlines the three conditions of Christian discipleship, namely, denying oneself, taking up one’s cross, and following Jesus.

If we leave out the cross in our lives, it is a clear case of “mistaken identity” as Christians. It is wrong to think that Christianity is all about happiness and prosperity. If we follow Christ, there will always be sufferings and persecutions.

Those who have not gone through heavy trials and life difficulties have not really experienced the love and grace of God. Isn't that ironic? But when was the last time you thought that the simplest meal in your home is all you needed? It is when you were starving at the middle of your trip at the most inconvenient place and time. Will we appreciate the light when we have not seen the darkness or enjoy the rainbow if it only has one color? Life will throw everything on us, from victories to defeats, sadness to joy, and everything in between. When facing difficulties, our weak faith can sometimes drive us to question the fairness of it all. But we are capable of overcoming them because our God is faithful.

When we think about it, the difficulties in this life is what define us, what we are made of, how strong and weak we are, and what is really important. It is only through sufferings and it's acceptance that we realize our limits as human beings. In placing our lives wholly in the arms of loving God, we can finally and truly live.

Let us all carry our cross and ask not our God to take it away from us. Because as we bear our own cross we learn to live a life of meaning, purpose, and sacrifice.

Prayer:

Jesus, help us to live in such a way that others will know we profess You to be the Messiah and that we take up our cross after You, and in so doing may many be attracted to follow You. Jesus, You are my one and only God.
Amen