(Optional Memorial for Saint Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor of the Church)
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| “Christ Carries the Cross” by El Greco, 1580s |
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: James 2:14-24, 26
What good is it, my brothers and sisters,
if someone says he has faith but does not have works?
Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear
and has 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 works, is dead.
Indeed someone might say,
“You have faith and I have works.”
Demonstrate your faith to me without works,
and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.
You believe that God is one.
You do well.
Even the demons believe that and tremble.
Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works
when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?
You see that faith was active along with his works,
and faith was completed by the works.
Thus the Scripture was fulfilled that says,
Abraham believed God,
and it was credited to him as righteousness,
and he was called the friend of God.
See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
For just as a body without a spirit is dead,
so also faith without works is dead.
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Commentary on Jas 2:14-24, 26
We are given St. James' famous “faith without works” monologue. The author lays the foundation for the Church’s understanding of justification through both faith and actions (to be clear, justified in this context means – “the act of God whereby humankind is made or accounted just, or free from guilt or penalty of sin.”).
“The theme of these verses is the relationship of faith and works (deeds). It has been argued that the teaching here contradicts that of Paul (see especially Romans 4:5-6). The problem can only be understood if the different viewpoints of the two authors are seen. Paul argues against those who claim to participate in God's salvation because of their good deeds as well as because they have committed themselves to trust in God through Jesus Christ (Paul's concept of faith). Paul certainly understands, however, the implications of true faith for a life of love and generosity (see Galatians 5:6, 13-15). The author of James is well aware that proper conduct can only come about with an authentic commitment to God in faith (James 2:18, 26). Many think he was seeking to correct a misunderstanding of Paul's view.” [4]
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. (see 1b) Blessed the man who greatly delights in the Lord’s commands.
Blessed the man who fears the Lord,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who greatly delights in the Lord’s commands.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house;
his generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
R. Blessed the man who greatly delights in the Lord’s commands.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just man shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who greatly delights in the Lord’s commands.
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Commentary on Ps 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
This section of Psalm 112 extols the virtues of faithfully following God’s commandments . This hymn of David exalts the person who follows the Law of God. A number of actions associated with this faithfulness are presented including acts of generosity, mercy, charity, and honesty. That person, we are told, will be held up by God “in everlasting remembrance.”
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Gospel: Mark 8:34–9:1
Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must 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 that of the Gospel will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
What could one give in exchange for his life?
Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words
in this faithless and sinful generation,
the Son of Man will be ashamed of
when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
He also said to them,
“Amen, I say to you,
there are some standing here who will not taste death
until they see that the Kingdom of God has come in power.”
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Commentary on Mk 8:34–9:1
In the previous verses, Jesus has chastised St. Peter for encouraging him to avoid the passion and death he is destined to endure. Now, turning to the rest of his followers, Jesus calls all of those who are with him to authentic discipleship. He tells them that answering that call means placing Christian sacrifice first, and if necessary denying even one’s life for the sake of the truth of the Son of God.
“This utterance of Jesus challenges all believers to authentic discipleship and total commitment to himself through self-renunciation and acceptance of the cross of suffering, even to the sacrifice of life itself. Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it . . . will save it: an expression of the ambivalence of life and its contrasting destiny. Life seen as mere self-centered earthly existence and lived in denial of Christ ends in destruction, but when lived in loyalty to Christ, despite earthly death, it arrives at fullness of life.” [5]
He challenges those who are wavering by indicating the sort of reception they will receive when they come before him on the last day: “Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” The last verse (9:1) is understood to mean the power of God’s kingdom on earth, the Church. Others clearly believed that the Parousia (second coming) was imminent.
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Reflection:
In the previous selection from St. Mark’s Gospel, St. Peter asks Jesus to lead the disciples down an easier course. The Lord, as we speculated yesterday, felt the evil one offering yet another temptation and rebuked his friend. This sets the stage for the message today.
Jesus had been talking to the disciples as they walked along at the head of a fairly large crowd of followers. He asked his closest friends “Who are they saying I am?” The disciples answered casually: “Some say you are John the Baptist, others Elijah and still others a prophet.” Jesus must have gotten more intense and asked “and you, who do you say I am?” We can almost see it. As Jesus asked the question, the whole group probably stopped in the middle of the road. St. Peter answers “We believe you are the Christ.” Jesus sees the awe with which they hold him. He tells them not to tell anyone and starts to explain that this great leader they expect will be rejected by the heads of the temple and put to death and rise in three days.
This is where St. Peter pulls him aside and tells him he’s gone too far. Now we pick up the story today. Jesus had been speaking just to the disciples up to this point. A little knot of men gathered around their teacher. Now Jesus calls up the rest of the crowd (Peter must have been thinking “Oh boy, here we go.”). Jesus tells the crowd, many of whom were curious about the Lord, having heard about the signs he had performed, that the road he is walking is a difficult and unpopular path and that if they want to follow him, they must put everything else in their lives aside and live the principles that Jesus is giving them.
The weaker ones in the crowd are now looking at each other thinking “What have I gotten myself into?” Jesus goes on “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.” Now those who were a bit shaky are leaving like summer Mass-goers late for a tee time. Who said anything about dying?
But this is what Jesus had to tell them and us: If we want to follow him, God must be first in our lives. It is not always fun and in fact we know it will be hard. It is the strength of his call today that should give us pause for thought as well. We may have other responsibilities in our lives – jobs, school, family and civic responsibilities, but through all of these things our dedication to Christ and the Gospel must be first. We dare not compromise. “What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”
Today we take in the whole tableau of Jesus on that dusty road. We are a bit daunted by how hard it is to walk where he walks, but strengthened by the Holy Spirit we rededicate ourselves to the path, the Way. We pray today that our feet will be firm upon that path.
Pax
[1] The picture today “Christ Carries the Cross” by El Greco, 1580s.
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[4] NAB Footnote on James 2:14ff.
[5] NAB footnote on Mark 8:34ff.
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