Today’s Gospel reflects Peter’s acknowledgement of Jesus being the Messiah, and the author Mark deliberately placed this in the middle of the Gospel, as it is a continuation of encouraging the reader to reflect and ponder if they themselves view Jesus as the Messiah, with Chapter1 being prompted by the Author themselves, and Chapter 15 being prompted by the Centurion (in this context representing the community). This speaks to the never-ending journey as Christians towards growing closer with Christ, through our perpetual process of transformation, away from our ingrained perceptions and views established by the secular world, and to choose to work towards building the Kingdom of heaven on earth.
This ties back to the reading on Isaiah Chapter 50, as it prompts the reader reflect on their lives, if we have been able to withstand and stay resolute against the constant earthly temptations and understating of God’s impact in our lives, and that Jesus is always there for us, should we choose to listen and have faith in his word and his lessons. It asks us if we can endure the tearing off, of one’s beard (in this context, a grave and painful insult), and remain steadfast in our faith in the Kingdom of Heaven, regardless of how we are treated and even admonished for our beliefs. However, faith alone is not enough, as we must also act upon it, else no true change in both our lives, and the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters had occurred.
This is what the Letter of James Chapter 2 addresses about the relationship between faith and good works. It is said that “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing”, and Jesus echoes this sentiment when stating “If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have good works, is dead.” The secular world barrages us with images and concepts of what wealth, success and happiness should be, which are mostly self-serving and blissfully ignorant of the plights and cries for aid from our less fortunate brothers and sisters. This, coupled with the practical responsibilities of maintaining financial stability for us, and for the sake of our family’s wellbeing, we find ourselves struggling to stay mindful and deliberate in being charitable towards others, as we tend to forget to praise, thank and adore God for all the blessings he bestowed upon us, that are intended to be used to serve and aid others.
In conclusion, the readings today are a reminder to reflect upon our first vocation as Catholics, to always be growing in holiness, to stay resilient and anchored by the word of God, and to put into practice the teachings , else there is no true conversion and transformation towards Christ. It is up to us to build the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.
By Francis Benedict Lim