Grow to the Right Answer

Sept 13^th, ‘15   Sunday Homily: Fr.Francis Chirackal CMI

Is 50:5-9a; Jas 2:14-18; Mk 8:27-35

For Readings

http://www.usccb.org/nab/091315.shtml

Study, training, and exams, pass or failures?  These are the routine terms we often hear in study and training circles. If one get passed, he or she becomes promoted and moves to more responsibility. If failure, re-learning is part of all educational and training systems. That is why in schools and colleges we see many periodical exams. Some students may pass all the subjects on first attempt itself, while rest of them may fail in some of the subjects. Then, those who failed, have to make another attempt to pass the exam and succeed. In today’s gospel, we see a theological school which Jesus was running, with a three year training course. He had twelve students, and he conducts a mid-term exam in which Peter passed in some of the topics, while failing in some of the other ones. But he didn’t give up. He was humble and determined. So Jesus gives him special training. At the end, Peter made it with great success.  

The first reading from the book of Isaiah gives a prophecy regarding the suffering Servant of God who was obedient unto death. St.James in the second reading reminds us to live the faith in Jesus, and to be  doers of the Word of God. In the Gospel passage Jesus presents His true identity as he foretells of his passion and death, which fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy. Many times Jesus had to keep his Messianic identity from the public, as people were expecting a political Messiah. But Jesus’ mission was to save the human race through His passion, death and resurrection.

Jesus wanted his disciples to have the right knowledge about Him and his mission. He was preparing his future missionaries, with the right knowledge and spirit. He was not training any young minds, but adults and older ones, who were with different backgrounds. Peter was not the only slow learning student in Jesus’ school, as we see Philip asks Jesus at the end, to show the Father saying, ‘Master, show us the Father’, even after hearing of the Father for three years. Jesus answers Philip after asking him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you still do not know me Philip?”

 Peter’s response also reflects his good heart. He didn’t want to see his Lord suffering. He didn’t want to gain anything out of someone else’s pain and suffering. This is the attitude every human being should have. This is the message we see in the second reading which tells us to be the doers of Word of God, i.e. to live a life of selfless love and service, not selfishness.

In the Messianic mission of Jesus, the suffering has a special role. Disobedience of man caused suffering and death. So, the Redeemer had to obey to the end, taking all sufferings upon himself, so the mankind will have new life. He became the Suffering Servant of God, as we see in the Book of Isaiah.

This story is also a story of our lives. Just like Peter, we may rightly answer the first and second questions. But when it comes to third question, i.e. the practical part which includes personal involvement and hardship, our answer may become wavering or wrong, where we may need to be corrected by Jesus. His way of correction may be harsh or smooth. Here, what is important is our growth in the divine experience and salvation. It is essential for our salvation. Therefore, whether sweet or bitter, if it is from God, we need it. From a worldly point of view, it may cause temporary humiliation or hurt in us, but we need to accept it as Peter did. Peter accepted the correction and grew to the deeper level, and Jesus exalted him.

This story is also provides great hope to all who find themselves slow in their growth in faith and virtues. Not having been rebuked doesn’t mean better learning or success, as Judas was there when Jesus rebuked Peter. We know that in the end Judas became a traitor. And also punishing doesn’t mean we are not loved. It is a sign of love and care.

Today Jesus may come to us in different forms according to our vocation and living situations, asking, ‘Who do you say that I am?”  We need to answer knowing Christ in our real lives and recognizing Jesus who said, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, ... even the least of them, you did it to Me.”  His arrival may be in the form of our own parents, children, spouse, siblings, friends and co-workers, those who are entrusted to our care and long for our love and consideration. Also needy persons, the lonely, the sick, and the aged persons, or anybody we encounter who needs our help. There, we need to know whether we consider them as our ‘messiah’ or we want to be their ‘messiah’. God wants us to consider them as our ‘messiah’ as they play a role in our salvation, and that God sends them into our lives with a role to make us ‘Doers of the Word of God’.  If we consider ourselves as their messiah, we may fall into the depth of selfishness. At the same time seeing our response they should be able to feel and find us as their messiah.

God allows no body to enter into our lives without any role for our salvation. We may or may not recognize it, and most of the times we may only recognize it very slowly.  Let us be aware that, we too may have a role of a ‘suffering servant of God’, to play in this journey toward the heavenly kingdom. The Disciples understood Jesus’ Messianic role fully, only after His resurrection. When they understood fully, they spent their whole lives for Jesus.

Let us thank God, for including us in the community of His people and showering His blessings in abundance.  Let us make every effort to give right answers, and if we fail, the humility to make more efforts to grow further, and ensure our salvation, and to play our role, as God wants us to do. God bless you.