Pentecost 18 (year B)- Mark 9:30-37- The Way of the Cross

The Gospel for this Sunday (Mark 9:30-37) has two distinct but related themes: Jesus' upcoming death and true greatness among His followers. In Mark 9:31, we have the second of three predictions of His passion, death and resurrection within three chapters. Christ emphasizes that His ministry is the way of the Cross. This teaching is not one which His closest disciples understood or were ready to accept. They were still focusing on the external glories and triumphs that they expected. 

A similar misunderstanding is reflected in the second section of this Gospel. The Twelve wish to hold great positions in the Messianic kingdom. Again they focus on external glory. Our Lord, however, points to a different view of greatness- one based on humility and service. Receiving a child in Jesus' name is more important than great worldly titles and honors. 

Thus, the Gospel points us to Christ's way, the way of the Cross. Spiritual and moral greatness are not to be confused with worldly standards. Jesus Christ did not come as a worldly conqueror, and He did not encourage His followers to seek worldly glories. Instead, He came to accept the way of the cross. He resisted and rebuked those who would distract Him from His mission, and He encouraged His disciples to follow Him in the way of humility and service.

Pentecost 17B- Mark 9:14-29- Faith and Prayer

In Mark 9:14-29, Jesus and His three closest disciples come from the sublime experience of the Transfiguration into the confusion and doubts of ordinary life. This is the interesting account of Jesus healing a boy with a powerful evil spirit. There are several themes here. There are scribes, disciples and crowds. There is the concerned father seeking healing for his afflicted son. As usual, Jesus shows both compassion and divine power in dealing with the situation. Among all these issues, this time let us focus on two key points.

First, there is the attitude of the father. The man has brought his afflicted son because he hopes Jesus or His disciples can do something to help. The initial efforts of the disciples have not been very useful, and the man is hesitant when he talks to Jesus. Therefore, Jesus exhorts him to have a stronger faith. The man replies, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mk 9:24). Such struggling faith is enough for Jesus to work. It opens the way for Jesus to overcome evil. It is the power and mercy of God that delivers, not faith as a human accomplishment. Faith itself is a gift from God that opens us to God's work.

Secondly, there is the problem of the disciples. The disciples as a whole had not been able to deal with this case. Perhaps they were over-confident because of previous successes. Perhaps they were distracted by the crowds and opponents around them. Whatever the details, they were not as deep in faith and in prayer as they might have been. So their efforts to heal the boy were fruitless. Jesus rebukes them along with the faithless inconstant crowds. And in the end (9:29), He stresses the need for prayer in overcoming evil. Prayer must be more than saying certain formulae. True prayer is being attuned to God; it means depending upon His power rather than our frail human efforts. For in the end, only God can overcome spiritual evil.

Pentecost 16 B- Mark 7- "Be Opened"

The Gospel from Mark 7:31-37is the story of Jesus Curing a Deaf-Mute Man near the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.  "...Taking him aside from the multitude privately, he [Jesus]put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue; 34 and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, 'Eph′phatha,' that is, 'Be opened.' 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly" (Mk 7:33-35 RSV).

We can approach this miracle from several perspectives. Like every miracle, this one shows both the power and the compassion of Jesus. Like the crowd, we should be impressed. They did not fully understand Jesus' ministry, but they ended by alluding to a Messianic prophecy (Isaiah 35:5,6). Jesus was bringing the Messianic age. He was/is the Christ who manifested the power of God the Father in His miracles. Although Jesus enjoined quietness in order to continue and complete His mission on earth, the crowds found it impossible to ignore His mighty works. As Christians who supposedly have a deeper understanding of and faith in Christ, we should have a hard time keeping quiet about Him.

We can also reflect upon this miracle from the man's perspective. Like him, we are often deaf and mute- in spiritual and moral matters. We need Christ's healing power to work in our lives; we need to have our ears opened and our tongues loosed.  The power, grace, and mercy of Jesus can and should change us. May we be more sensitive and attentive to the Gospel. May we hear the good news of His saving work and be ready to share it.