24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B
1st Reading: Isaiah 50:5-9a
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 116:1-2.3-4.5-6.8-9 (R. 9)
2nd Reading: James 2:14-18
Gospel Acclamation: Galatians 6:14
Gospel Reading: Mark 8:27-35
Dear Friends in Christ, my reflection will be coming from the Gospel of Mark (Mark 8:27-35) which I titled : Discipleship and Self-Denial:
Jesus in the Gospel reading invites us to become His disciples, the call is an awakening to take up our cross and follow Him, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospel’s will save it.”
True discipleship means self-denial, sacrificing worldly ambitions, and embracing God's will, even when it involves suffering, hardship and persecutions. By losing one's life for Christ, one finds true life in Him, which is the essence of our existence.
This Gospel periscope challenges us to recognize Jesus Christ as the Messiah, understand the necessity of His sacrifice, and commit ourselves to following Him with humility and trusting in His will and dictates.
Measure all things with Christ.
MY REFLECTION
THEME: THE DEMANDS OF OUR FAITH
Our readings of today centralize on the focal point that the faith we profess should be expressed by the life we live. And, this brings to mind the slogan of the NFCS, viz; NFCS, LIVING THE FAITH. To this end our faith must be lived.
To this end, St. James reminds us of the need to always put into practice the Faith we profess through the life we live, by helping others who are in need, as far as our resources can carry us. In our present day, this need can be psychological, material, Spiritual, etcetera.
In addition, Jesus Christ also reminds us in the Gospel that the journey of Christianity is not always a rosy one, by indicating that he would have to suffer cross in this life. This is a subtle reminder to Christians too that we all have one cross or the other to bear in our earthly sojourn, and we must do that wholeheartedly.
Finally, we should note that our crosses would be bearable when we have a total reliance on God, as the prophecy of Isaiah teaches in the first reading.
Reflection
PURPOSEFUL FAITH: DOING ALL FOR CHRIST'S SAKE
It was Socrates who said "An unexamined life is not worth living" and this suggests that we must have a purpose in life. We are created for a mission and that is to manifest the glory of God in this world by knowing why God made us, to which, our penny catechism tells us that 'God made us to know him, love him, serve him in this world and be happy with him forever.'
Likewise it is with our profession of faith. Our faith must be purposeful. St. James aptly tells us today that Faith without work is dead. We are currently in a very critical situation in our country and world. The economy is not smiling at anyone. And for truth, anyone offering to help at this point can simply be a loving person; one whose faith is in line with his work. We cannot claim to express faith in God by neglecting the pragmatic aspect of such faith. So therefore, let our faith be purposeful in practice. We cannot be faith people in idleness, be practical.
This Purposeful Faith is what we express through our work for others primarily for the sake of Christ because we know He will not abandon or shame us. The prophet Isaiah in expressing his faith did not run away from those who were against him, simply because God will help him. For when God is for you, no one can be against you to bring you shame and disgrace. The prophet knew who was behind him, and as such was able to endure all the hardships he was confronted with.
What then is our attitude when we face difficulties? From experience, I tell you, leave everything to God and even your adversary would wonder if their schemes are not effective. Like Isaiah let us say "Behold, the Lord GOD helps me." This period indeed is a time we must hold on to God because he is the only one who can deliver us. So that at the end we can be confident as the psalmist to say "I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living."
Just as Socrates says 'Man Know Thyself,' Jesus inquires from his disciples who people think about him. This doesn't mean Jesus didn't know himself but wants to get the views of the people out there to know if they truly know his purpose here on earth. Indeed, the disciples gave some of the views but turning to them, Peter inspired divinely, spoke that He is the Christ. But knowing that he is the Christ without knowing his purpose can be a half-baked knowledge of who the Christ really is. That is why Peter objected to the way the Christ is to be manifested of his purpose on earth. Indeed, there is no crown with a cross and Jesus was going to exemplify that to the world. But the faint hearted like Peter would not want to walk the way to the cross talk less of taking up the cross that may lead eventually to death.
Every story has a history, and every glory has a story behind it. Before we claim some entitlement to some people we acclaim big, rich, famous, we must try to enquire about their journey thus far. This also applies to our Faith. That someone so so powerful did not just fall from heaven. Such a person must have made so many sacrifices, disciplines that have brought thus far in the state of life he or she had attained. So therefore, let us have a purpose driven faith in our Christina journey.
Know yourself by having a self examination. Do not always follow the crowd, they can mistake your purpose and mission and if you do follow their opinion about your life, you will end up not fulfilling your purpose on earth.
Seek and trust in the Lord always because He is your Help, for the help of man is vain. Have a Purposeful Faith and do everything for the sake of Christ.
Prayer: O Lord, our Help and Solace, give us always the grace to truly living our faith in good works that we may manifest your glory here on earth through Christ our Lord. Amen.
#Shalom
Na the waka waka wey go please Baba God I go do
Calm down see how Prophet Isaiah take leave d mata for God, even wen dem dey use am do tospi, dem even dey turn am like iya basira dey turn hot amala, ihm no gree don… Y?
Shey na bcos ihm faith dey show for d work wey ihm dey do abi na bcos say ihm liver strong like olumo rock 🤔?
Me, as me am now, I don gree say na bcos ihm kno were to hang abi na dig ihm foundashun.. Na wetin make am fit use the same thing we Broda James tell us take preach. Na the work wey accompany the faith make am kno say na for were Baba God dey face, ihm dey stand!
Wat of me? you nkooo?
Shey I fit stand use my faith and my work take show say Jesus na my saviour abi I just be Sunday Christian?
Shey I fit with my full chest declare say I be Jesus pikin wen dem corner me with percekushun, lie lie, wen dem gang up against me, talk the one wey I no do join the one wey I no kno so dat pipul go join hate me, yab me, & laff me join?
E no easy to ansa Jesus pikin o!
But, from today I go try make d small small waka waka wey I dey do show say me sef, na Jesus pikin' before I go join am for yonda!
Amen
STRIVE TO IMITATE THE MESSIAH!
we may be tempted oftentimes, to imagine or create for ourselves, a path that suits our personal dreams, without considering the Master's plans for us.
But then, anyone who truly desires to be a successful and faithful disciple of the Lord, must realize that, true fulfilment can only be found and obtained in doing the will of the One who has called us.
obviously, Jesus knew His mission and had no doubts about His identity, but by questioning His disciples about what the people thought of Him, He intended to correct their impression about the long expected Messiah.
Far from what they thought, the Messiah who has come to save them, would have to suffer and be killed, but then, on the third day He will rise again!
If we must remain disciples of this Messiah, then, we too must be ready to follow His footsteps by patiently bearing our daily crosses in our different vocations of life.
We Must Take Up Our Crosses Daily!
