＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊   

Isaiah 50:5-9a

  The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear. 

I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn.  I offered my back to those who strike me, my cheeks to those who pulled my beard; neither did I shield my face from blows, spittle and disgrace.

 I have not despaired, for the Lord Yahweh comes to my help. So, like a flint I set my face, knowing that I will not be disgraced.  He who avenges me is near. Who then will accuse me?

Let us confront each other. Who is now my accuser? Let him approach.   If the Lord Yahweh is my help. who will condemn me?

 

Ps 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9(9)

I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

James 2:14-18

 What good is it, my bro­thers and sisters, to profess faith without showing works? Such faith has no power to save you.  If a brother or sister is in need of clothes or food  and one of you says, “May things go well for you; be warm and satisfied,” without attending to their material needs, what good is that? So it is for faith without deeds: it is totally dead.

 Say to whoever challenges you, “You have faith and I have good deeds; show me your faith apart from actions and I, for my part, will show you my faith in the way I act.”

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊     

Mark 8:27-35

 Jesus set out with his disciples for the villages around Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” And they told him, “Some say you are John the Baptist; others say you are Elijah or one of the prophets.”

Then Jesus asked them, “But you, who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” And he ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

Jesus then began to teach them that the Son of Man had to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the Law. He would be killed and after three days rise again. 

Jesus said all this quite openly, so that Peter took him aside and began to protest strongly. But Jesus turning around, and looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter saying, “Get behind me Satan! You are thinking not as God does, but as people do.”

Then Jesus called the peo­ple and his disciples and said, “If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me. For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it; and if you lose your life for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel, you will save it.

 

Gospel Reflection：

　

READ: While doing His ministry around Caesarea Philippi Jesus asks his disciples regarding the people's opinion about him. There were various reactions from the people, classifying Jesus as John the Baptist, Elijah are one of the prophets of old. When he asks his disciples about their opinion about Him, Peter proclaims Him the Messiah.

Jesus orders them not to tell anyone and begins to disclose His future fate. Peter protests strongly but Jesus rebukes him, telling His disciples that their fate too would be similar to His, but that is where they will find eternal life.

REFLECT: Now that Jesus has established a widespread reputation in all of Israel as a fine preacher and miracle worker, He wants to know the opinion of people about Him. The answers given him as to who people say he is, are quite expected.

In Him the people think that the dawn of prophetic voice has come after being silent for more than 400 years. But for His closest friends like the twelve, he is more than a prophet. For friends have more access to the inner realities of each other.

That is why Peter could say that Jesus is the Messiah. But still, people are mysteries to fathom. Peter's idea of a messiah does not square off with Jesus’ self-understanding of Himself.

Peter and the rest of the disciples may have harbored the idea of an earthly messiah, with all the trappings of power and authority. But for Jesus, the Messiah suffers and dies for his people that they may have life.

That is why Peter objected to this type of Messiah. Jesus rebukes him. Then He reminded everyone not to seek for earthly glory but to find glory in the cross that each of them will carry for his sake.

RESPOND:  We sometimes have a triumphalist notion of our faith. We love to show off and revel in the pomp and pageantry of our faith expressions. But Jesus in his lifetime was never a fan of this display of trappings of power and authority.

He rather emphasized service and love as the cornerstone of His ministry. Maybe today we have to review our tendencies when it comes to following Jesus. It is not too late for us to align our thoughts with Jesus' thoughts on the notion of leadership.