Homily from the Parish Priest for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings: Isaiah 50:5-9; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35
Accusations of fake news, conspiracy theories, propaganda. It’s very difficult a lot of the time for many to really know exactly what’s going on. We hear different stories whispered on talk radio, in the newspapers, on the internet, and through official reporting channels. It’s sometimes hard to get across – at least I find it so – that the COVID vaccine is to be trusted as totally safe and we should be strongly encouraged for the sake of others, not ourselves, to get vaccinated. And yet some will say: what is the truth? People can be forgiven for being all too easily misled and pushed off track.
In the light of all this around us the Gospel today seems especially challenging. Because it brings me back to the facts of my faith. Why I do what I do, profess to believe and live as I have chosen. To bring me back to what is central to what I think embracing truth is all about, namely an encounter with the transparency, the perfect humanity who is Jesus Christ. Let’s look at the situation in 1st century Palestine portrayed in Mark’s Gospel. There had been clearly lots of chattering about who Jesus was – due – doubtless – to the extraordinary series of events which had been taking place in the region: rumours, stories about what was going on must have abounded and probably different versions. Healings of various people and especially the poor and disadvantaged, miraculous events such as the multiplication of food, and so there were questions raised about who he was and what he was all about – questions which the disciples simply could not answer. They hadn’t got a clue in fact. So much fluff about how he was an itinerant preacher casting out demons – perhaps he was not just phony but demonic himself; was he a political revolutionary; or was he claiming to be a great prophet like Elijah and John the Baptist? Trusting he was real and following him was far from a simple response. They were a long long way from making long term 100% clear commitment.
And yet at this point in the narrative of St Mark’s Gospel – in parts in fact it may well be a much abridged narrative of what happened –we arrive at what appears to be a clear statement about who he is – coming from the chief apostle – Peter – “You are the Christ”. A clear statement, clarifying the fog about John the Baptist and Elijah, a prophet calling Israel back to God, a political King preaching subversion against the Roman authorities, perhaps even a troublemaker, a maverick preacher. A statement from Peter which would seem to express the answer clearly: Jesus is “the Christ”, that is the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Incarnation of God, Son of Man and Son of God. Somehow impulsive Peter takes the plunge – without really knowing - and goes with Jesus. He’s taken a leap of faith, of trust, in another human being. Like any relationship we take a leap of faith in the other person despite all the fuzzy edges and uncertainties – what we’re uncertain of about that person – and despite the hurt, anger, frustration that entering into a relationship entails. I can think of times in my life certainly when I’ve been hurt or I’ve hurt others and can point to those times as real moments of challenge when I’ve needed the emotional energy to trust again. And I certainly hear that story again and again in the privileged position of a priest – about struggles with partners, work organisations and very much with the Catholic Church too and the struggles with doubt, anger, betrayal, faith.
Peter gives the perfect answer: indeed we know it’s right according to St Mark’s account: it’s his very first verse: “The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God…” So - on one level - St Peter could not but be condoned: he deserves a star, a pat on the back for the most right answer. Jesus really is God – as we will proclaim shortly in the Creed. But Jesus himself is not really impressed. He wants something more than words. Why? Because Peter – like all the other disciples up to this point – have not got to know who Jesus really is. He has not understood anything of what those events in the Galilean countryside really meant – what his and their mission was – what the actual vision for a way of life was
The key to unlocking who he really is is only to be revealed in the future – in the second half of Mark’s Gospel – and that key is the key to unlock the whole of the Christian Faith, that is that Jesus Christ came into this world for the cross. And that is something we cannot take in – we cannot take in God’s ways. The answer to the question “who do you say that I am?” will only have fuller meaning to us as we live the Christian life and come to Jesus at the crunch times on the journey of life: the loss of a loved one, a relationship breakup, the loss of a job, depression, whatever comes to us in our lives as our cross. And that’s what the disciples need to allow to be worked out themselves – the secret of the Lord’s Messiahship revealed to them personally in their lives. “Walking the walk”, not just “talking the talk” we might say.
The cross teaches us who Jesus is and what we are about as Christians. Indeed I believe more than ever our faith in Christ can speak to a world longing for truth, goodness, honesty. Not just within the Church but for the so many people out there in our world who never come into a church but who are searching for meaning in their lives; for an answer to the questions about why this and that on our journey of life: where am I going? What is the plan for my life? Where do I fit in? Does it all make sense? Amid all the conflicting stories about what gives meaning to life.
And the only answer we can give as Christians is the answer the first followers of Christ give here. The answer is in first of all hearing the call to get to know Jesus Christ – to gaze deeply at who he is as he calls each one of us – to see what he did for us – the cross – and to stand in awe at the mystery of the suffering servant there in this God made human. And in that light to proclaim the resurrection mystery, our hope of freedom in this life and in a fuller way when all will be revealed in the next which awaits us if we follow him.
An invitation then to come closer to him. And no greater place we do this than in the sacrifice of the Mass where the whole mystery – the mystery yes – which we profess as true Christian mystery – but which we will never grasp fully this side of the grave – is made real.
Fr Dominic Robinson SJ