(Optional Memorial for the Seven Founders of the Order Of Servites, Religious)
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| “Christ Carrying the Cross” by El Greco, 1600-05 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Genesis 11:1-9
Commentary on Gn 11:1-9
The author uses the story of the Tower of Babel as an explanation of how there came to be multiple languages used around the world. It is coupled with the moral lesson which illustrates how pride in one’s own strength is folly. In the story, which is based upon the temple towers or ziggurats of Babylonia, the author describes the increasing wickedness of the people as they thought they could accomplish anything they wanted without God’s help.
CCC: Gen 11:4-6 57
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33:10-11, 12-13, 14-15
R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Commentary on Ps 33:10-11, 12-13, 14-15
Psalm 33 is a hymn of praise. In this selection the lesson presented in Genesis 11:1-9 is reinforced. “The Lord brings to naught the plans of nations; he foils the designs of peoples.” Without God there is no creation, progress, or salvation.
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Gospel: Mark 8:34--9:1
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.”[4]
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:
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
In these challenging times, the words of the Lord can give us peace. While it sounds like a huge challenge (and it is) there is a sense of hope. Hope because what the Lord is telling us is that what is truly important is not strictly our physical or financial wellbeing, but our spiritual focus.
We listen to the news each day and see what is going on around us in the secular world. Worse, much of this news affects us directly and if we dwell upon it we find only depression and hopelessness. It seems in parallel to the story from Genesis we heard today, about the great tower the Babylonians were building. Because they were so arrogant, they thought they could undertake a work of human hands that would rival God’s creation.
In response to their arrogance and unbelief, God showed them the error of false pride by introducing serious communication problems; they could no longer understand one another. We see that today, in the workplace and in our lives. Without the common language of a united purpose or goal, our language fails us, and what we attempt is doomed to failure.
Into this confusion come the words, “follow me.” Christ is our uniting purpose. He is the one who gives us direction and shows us what is truly important in our lives. In difficult and desperate times, we contemplate drastic and extreme actions. Christ calls to us. What good is it to gain the whole world and lose your life?
He keeps us focused on what is important, what is at the core of Christian faith, love of God and love of neighbor. Let us keep those words in mind in the difficult days ahead.
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
Pax
[1] The picture used is “Christ Carrying the Cross” by El Greco, 1600-05
[4] See NAB footnote on Mark 8:34ff
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