Texts taken from the “On Your Word” Missal September-October 2024

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
4th week, Psalter

FIRST READING

From the book of the prophet Isaiah (Is 50:5-9a)
The Lord God has opened my ear, and I have not resisted; I have not drawn back. I gave my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore out my beard; I did not hide my face from insults and spitting. The Lord God is my help; therefore I am not disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. He is near who upholds my right; who will dare to contend with me? Let us confront each other. Who is my adversary? Let him approach me. See, the Lord God is my help; who will declare me guilty? - The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the first reading

The Old Testament speaks of a mysterious “servant of Yahweh” who suffers greatly, an innocent man who pays for everyone. The truly wise and those who read the Scriptures with a pure heart knew that this figure would suffer for a great cause, while others interpreted his suffering symbolically. In the Bible, God had made himself known first as the liberator of the people (in Exodus), then as the creator of the world (in Genesis), and then as the giver of a perfect law (in the various wisdom books), ultimately arriving at the figure of the innocent suffering servant. When Jesus came, few recognized in him the perfect fulfillment of this figure, and sadly even the apostles themselves were scandalized at the time of the Passion. This can happen today as well. Let us ask the ordinary person: “What is the Church for? What is the meaning of Mass?” There will be various answers. Perhaps not everyone will say that the meaning of the Church and the value of the Mass are the salvation of the world and of souls brought about by the sacrifice of Christ, the humble “servant of Yahweh.”

SECOND READING

From the letter of Saint James the Apostle (Jas 2:14-18)
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat your fill,” but you do not give them what they need for the body, what good is it? So faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. On the contrary, someone might say: “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” - The word of God.

Commentary on the second reading

The apostle James’s invitation is essential: faith tends toward action. We believe in almighty God, and then we act according to that belief. On the other hand, the Lord himself defines faith as a work: “What must we do to accomplish the works of God?” the Jews once asked him. Jesus replied: “This is the work of God: that you believe in the one he sent” (Jn 6:28-29). Those who have faith open the doors to charity, because God is love, and therefore they perform works of charity. Those who have faith ask the Holy Spirit to come into their hearts and transform their lives: he is sent, and the will is strengthened; the desire to see others happy becomes our inner motivation; the need to give of ourselves becomes compelling. This is God’s work in us: a charity that urges and drives us. If we find ourselves cold and without love, let us draw near to the fire to warm ourselves, that is, let us implore the Holy Spirit, the living fire, and he will immediately come to transform our weakness into continuous activity. Let us never settle for a quiet life, because this is incompatible with Christian life. 

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark (Mk 8:27-35)
At that time, Jesus went with his disciples toward the villages around Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he questioned his disciples, saying: “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him: “John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” And he asked them: “But you, who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him: “You are the Christ.” And he strictly ordered them not to speak to anyone about him. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke openly about this. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning around and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said: “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not thinking according to God, but according to men.” He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them: “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel will save it.” - The Gospel of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel of the day

The identity of Christ is vitally important. We must all know who he truly is, and we cannot be mistaken or deceive ourselves, because our entire life depends on this position, not only life on this earth but eternal life, and also the life of all people of all times. If Jesus is God and Savior, this is of great significance; if he is merely a man, everything changes. Jesus reveals himself and makes himself known as the Messiah and divine Lord, but we must give him the assent of our faith; otherwise he remains a stranger. Once we know and accept him in his truth (“You are the Christ!”), he asks us to participate fully in his life, which does not fulfill our human glory but reveals the life of heaven. To enter the kingdom of God, we must suffer, the Lord will say clearly and repeatedly, but the crown of glory is then promised. The cross is not desired for its own sake, but is “caused” by human sin, and God shows us his greatness by suffering every pain for us, to fulfill his mission as redeemer. Therefore, believing in Jesus means living his life, losing our own, and being immersed in the Gospel and in the living fire of love, without fear.