Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mark 9:30-37)
The second half of the Gospel of Mark is dominated by the journey towards Jerusalem, the place of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Since this Gospel is comparatively short, the tension of this journey is more evident than in the other gospels, as Jesus draws his reluctant and confused disciples to face the mystery of his cross.
For the second time Jesus announces his coming death. He will be handed over an put to death. Three days after he will rise again. While Peter had reacted strongly to similar words of Jesus in the previous chapter, here there is simply bewilderment.
The following verses underline that the disciples are not yet ready to face up to what Jesus has said. Their preoccupation is still with status and their relative positions in Jesus’ company. Mark does not hesitate to present the disciples as having much to learn, both about the conditions for following Jesus and about the prospect of his martyrdom.
Jeus’ answer is to call them to accept the position of the least, and he illustrates this by placing a child before them.
Our first reading, from the Book of Wisdom, speaks of the plots of the godless against the virtuous man. It is not surprising that Christians used such texts to reflect on what happened to Jesus. So should we.
How difficult is it to accept a crucified Messiah?
Do I, like the disciples, seek to avoid awkward truths which are presented to me?
We pray for those who face persecution and violence because of their beliefs.
We pray for the gift of true humility and appropriate ambition.
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mark 9:38-43,45,47-48)
This gospel reading contains a collection of different sayings of Jesus. The first speech warns us against the exclusive attitude which says that, unless someone completely shares our opinions and our faith, they can do no good. The next saying seems to confirm his. Any good deed from whatever source, Jesus implies, should be welcomed and will be rewarded.
Jesus then speaks of ‘obstacles’ placed in the way of believers, the ‘little ones’ who have faith. The Greek word used here is similar to the word ‘scandal’. To scandalise others, to violate their faith, to undermine their pursuit of what is good and right, is plainly wrong.
Jesus then apparently suggests that self-mutilation, cutting off hand or foot, tearing out the eye, would be better than sinning. What are we to make of this? This is an extreme way of pointing out the seriousness of in. Christians should understand the strength of what Jesus is saying, but Christian teaching has never condoned self-harm of this magnitude.
Finally, what are we to make of the references to hell and its eternal fire? The Church teaches us that the image of eternal fire is an attempt to express the dreadful pain of losing God and of shutting oneself off from the love of others. This pain is worse than any physical suffering.
How accepting am I of the goodness of those who do not share my beliefs?
Do I place obstacles in the way of others, undermining their faith and goodness?
We pray for the zeal which always seeks what is good.
We pray for confidence in the goodness of God.
Fr Adrian Graffy