Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings: Isaiah 50:5-9a James 2:14-18 Mark 8:27-35

The power of the cross

“who do you say that I am?”

Jesus’ question is not merely a historical or theological one but a deeply personal challenge for each of us.

What kind of Jesus do we believe in? Do we envision a Jesus who provides us with everything we need?

The World Today: Jesus continues to ask us, “Who do you say that I am?”

Our world presents diverse beliefs about Jesus:

Some people think that following Him guarantees a comfortable life. Others believe Jesus’ love ensures salvation regardless of our actions. Some believe it is enough to have faith in Jesus to be saved. Many believe in and follow Jesus, but fail to accept that following Jesus also means that carrying crosses and follow him.

This is often referred to as "half-hearted faith"—a faith according to our personal preferences or favor, lacking root or dedication.

In today’s Gospel:

We are reminded that even the apostles, including St. Peter, did not fully grasp Jesus's true nature. Peter, the first Pope, identified Jesus as the Christ but struggled with the concept of a suffering Messiah—a Jesus who would suffer and die.

The Church’s Teaching: The Church teaches that Jesus is the crucified Savior, the suffering and faithful Servant.

· The first reading from Isaiah portrays the Lord’s passion, depicting the Servant who endures slander, violence, and deceit with steadfastness. This image mirrors Jesus, who used His suffering and the cross to manifest God’s immense love for humanity.

· Second reading, James reminds us that faith must be manifested in our actions; our acts of faith can be the crosses we carry.

· Gospel: To follow God is to walk the path of the cross. Jesus’ teachings in the Gospel make this clear:

“Whoever wants to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the Gospel will save it.”

A faith that does not embrace the cross is incomplete. The world avoids crosses, becoming weaker and weaker. Similarly, people who shy away from their crosses become easily broken when faced with temptations and challenges.

· The great news is that the more we carry our crosses, the stronger we become. The good news is that the more we bear our crosses, the closer we draw to God. The greatest news is that the cross is the path to salvation.

· Our faith and the reality of life show us that belief in Jesus means risking everything for Him.

Story of a woman who fled from Vietnam after 1975.

A woman fled Vietnam with her family of five. Tragically, after they boarded a small boat, two of her brothers were shot and killed by communist soldiers. The suffering she endured was immense. After many days at sea without food or water, she and the remaining family members thought they might not survive. Despite these hardships, she eventually reached the US.

In America, she started a new life, had a family, and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Sadly, the baby lived only for a month. A nun who witnessed the death of her child shared that as she held her baby in her arms after her death, her heart was shattered. Yet, she echoed the words of Job, saying, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Such faith is remarkable. Imagine if someone who had never carried a cross could speak with such grace. Without the trials and suffering she faced, her strength and faith might be unrecognizable. This is the power of bearing one’s cross.

Paul reminds us that “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.”

Final Reflection: Everything we do reflects our answer to Jesus’ question: "who do you say that I am?" If we respond as Peter did, “You are the Christ,” then we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him.

Reflecting questions: What kind of faith do we live? Is it a faith like that of James’ community, where people profess belief in Jesus but do not live it out? Or is it a faith that avoids the challenges and sacrifices, without taking up the cross?