Reading 1 Is 50:5-9a The Lord GOD opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.
The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. He is near who upholds my right; if anyone wishes to oppose me, let us appear together. Who disputes my right? Let that man confront me. See, the Lord GOD is my help; who will prove me wrong? Responsorial Psalm Ps 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 R. (9) I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: R. Alleluia. I love the LORD because he has heard my voice in supplication, because he has inclined his ear to me the day I called. R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: R. Alleluia. The cords of death encompassed me; the snares of the netherworld seized upon me; I fell into distress and sorrow, and I called upon the name of the LORD, "O LORD, save my life!" R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: R. Alleluia. Gracious is the LORD and just; yes, our God is merciful. The LORD keeps the little ones; I was brought low, and he saved me. R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: R. Alleluia. For he has freed my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the Lord in the land of the living. R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: R. Alleluia. Reading 2 Jas 2:14-18 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. Alleluia Gal 6:14 R. Alleluia, alleluia. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 8:27-35 Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Christ." Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.
He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."
He 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."
Today’s Gospel passage (cf. Mk 8:27-35) turns to the question that permeates the whole Gospel of Mark: who is Jesus? But this time Jesus himself poses it to his disciples, helping them to gradually address the question of his identity. Before asking them, the Twelve, directly, Jesus wants to hear from them what the people think about him, and he is well aware that the disciples are very sensitive to the Teacher’s renown! Therefore, he asks: “Who do men say that I am?” (v. 27). It comes to light that Jesus is considered by the people as a great prophet. But, in reality, he is not interested in the opinions and gossip of the people. He also does not agree that his disciples should answer the questions with pre-packaged formulas, quoting well-known individuals from Sacred Scripture, because a faith that is reduced to formulas is a short-sighted faith.
The Lord wants his disciples of yesterday and today to establish a personal relationship with him, and thus to embrace him at the centre of their life. For this reason he spurs them to face themselves honestly, and he asks: “But who do you say that I am?” (v. 29). Today, Jesus addresses this very direct and confidential question to each of us: “You, who do you say that I am? All of you, who do you say that I am? Who am I for you?”. Each person is called to respond, in his or her heart, allowing each one to be illuminated by the light that the Father gives us in order to know his Son Jesus. And it can also happen to us, as it did to Peter, that we passionately affirm: “You are the Christ”. However, when Jesus tells us clearly what he told the disciples, that is, that his mission is fulfilled not on the wide road to success, but on the arduous path of the suffering, humiliated, rejected and crucified Servant, then it can also happen that we, like Peter, might protest and rebel because this contrasts with our expectations, with worldly expectations. In those moments, we too deserve Jesus’ healthy rebuke: “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men” (v. 33).
Brothers and sisters, the profession of faith in Jesus Christ cannot stop at words, but calls to be authenticated by practical choices and gestures, by a life characterized by God’s love; it calls for a great life, a life with an abundance of love for neighbour. Jesus tells us that to follow him, to be his disciples, we must deny ourselves (cf. v. 34), that is, the demands of our own selfish pride, and take up our own cross. Then he gives everyone a fundamental rule. And what is this rule? “For whoever would save his life will lose it” (v. 35). Often in life, for many reasons, we go astray, looking for happiness only in things, or in people whom we treat as things. But we find happiness only when love, true love, encounters us, surprises us, changes us. Love changes everything! And love can also change us, each one of us. The witnesses of Saints proves it.
May the Virgin Mary, who lived her faith by faithfully following her Son Jesus, help us too to walk on his path, generously spending our life for him and for our brothers and sisters.
FAUSTI - "Who do men say I am?" "But you, who do you say I am?" Jesus asks the disciples and us. Before everyone asked themselves "Who is he?" Now He Himself asks: "Who am I for you?". Christianity is the answer to this question that He asks me. His provocation is also an examination of sight, to make us see that we need further new eyes. Faith cannot be delegated. Everyone is called to give his own answer, to know him, love him and follow him, even if still imperfectly. So far Jesus has fulfilled our desires, but almost only to entice us and dispose us to receive a gift that surpasses all our expectations. He has drawn us to Him because we trust Him. From now on he will begin to give us no more gifts. Our eye must pass from His empty hand to His Face, and penetrate into His Heart, the source of every gift. God is Love, and nothing else loves but to love and give Himself to the beloved. The second part of the Gospel will thus present him to us, and will culminate on the Cross, where he will fully accomplish the Revelation of Himself in the gift of Himself. Our risk is to remain closed in the first part, without ever knowing the Lord. In fact, we do not seek Him, but His gifts, and we identify Him with them, reducing Him to an idol, coat hanger of our desires or ghost of our fears. God's wisdom passes through poverty, humiliation and humility; it accepts suffering, repudiation and killing, and so overcomes the evil done by the wisdom of man, who seeks having, power and appearance, causing his own death and that of others. Peter, like all of us, remains closed in the thought of man. His clash with Jesus is violent. It will become ever tighter, until the final confrontation. The cross, made by us and carried by Him, remains the only possible place of encounter. The journey is slow and difficult, but safe and respectful. The "Word", denouncing our blindness more and more clearly, places us in the need to ask for light. This is our greatest gesture of freedom, with which we recognize the truth and put ourselves behind Jesus, always tempted, like Peter, to put ourselves before us. Jesus is the Pastor who, with His Cross, His staff, leads us to victory over evil and death. We follow Him as the Word that indicates the path of life, the cloud and the pillar of fire that leads from slavery to freedom. It is the Lord present in our midst. Love and obedience to Him is our salvation.
RispondiEliminaReading 1
Is 50:5-9a
The Lord GOD opens my ear that I may hear;
and I have not rebelled,
have not turned back.
I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;
my face I did not shield
from buffets and spitting.
The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
He is near who upholds my right;
if anyone wishes to oppose me,
let us appear together.
Who disputes my right?
Let that man confront me.
See, the Lord GOD is my help;
who will prove me wrong?
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
R. (9) I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I love the LORD because he has heard
my voice in supplication,
because he has inclined his ear to me
the day I called.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The cords of death encompassed me;
the snares of the netherworld seized upon me;
I fell into distress and sorrow,
and I called upon the name of the LORD,
"O LORD, save my life!"
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gracious is the LORD and just;
yes, our God is merciful.
The LORD keeps the little ones;
I was brought low, and he saved me.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
For he has freed my soul from death,
my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
I shall walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Reading 2
Jas 2:14-18
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.
Alleluia
Gal 6:14
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord
through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mk 8:27-35
Jesus and his disciples set out
for the villages of Caesarea Philippi.
Along the way he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that I am?"
They said in reply,
"John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others one of the prophets."
And he asked them,
"But who do you say that I am?"
Peter said to him in reply,
"You are the Christ."
Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.
He began to teach them
that the Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed, and rise after three days.
He spoke this openly.
Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples,
rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."
He 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."
POPE FRANCIS
RispondiEliminaANGELUS 16 September 2018
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning!
Today’s Gospel passage (cf. Mk 8:27-35) turns to the question that permeates the whole Gospel of Mark: who is Jesus? But this time Jesus himself poses it to his disciples, helping them to gradually address the question of his identity. Before asking them, the Twelve, directly, Jesus wants to hear from them what the people think about him, and he is well aware that the disciples are very sensitive to the Teacher’s renown! Therefore, he asks: “Who do men say that I am?” (v. 27). It comes to light that Jesus is considered by the people as a great prophet. But, in reality, he is not interested in the opinions and gossip of the people. He also does not agree that his disciples should answer the questions with pre-packaged formulas, quoting well-known individuals from Sacred Scripture, because a faith that is reduced to formulas is a short-sighted faith.
The Lord wants his disciples of yesterday and today to establish a personal relationship with him, and thus to embrace him at the centre of their life. For this reason he spurs them to face themselves honestly, and he asks: “But who do you say that I am?” (v. 29). Today, Jesus addresses this very direct and confidential question to each of us: “You, who do you say that I am? All of you, who do you say that I am? Who am I for you?”. Each person is called to respond, in his or her heart, allowing each one to be illuminated by the light that the Father gives us in order to know his Son Jesus. And it can also happen to us, as it did to Peter, that we passionately affirm: “You are the Christ”. However, when Jesus tells us clearly what he told the disciples, that is, that his mission is fulfilled not on the wide road to success, but on the arduous path of the suffering, humiliated, rejected and crucified Servant, then it can also happen that we, like Peter, might protest and rebel because this contrasts with our expectations, with worldly expectations. In those moments, we too deserve Jesus’ healthy rebuke: “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men” (v. 33).
Brothers and sisters, the profession of faith in Jesus Christ cannot stop at words, but calls to be authenticated by practical choices and gestures, by a life characterized by God’s love; it calls for a great life, a life with an abundance of love for neighbour. Jesus tells us that to follow him, to be his disciples, we must deny ourselves (cf. v. 34), that is, the demands of our own selfish pride, and take up our own cross. Then he gives everyone a fundamental rule. And what is this rule? “For whoever would save his life will lose it” (v. 35). Often in life, for many reasons, we go astray, looking for happiness only in things, or in people whom we treat as things. But we find happiness only when love, true love, encounters us, surprises us, changes us. Love changes everything! And love can also change us, each one of us. The witnesses of Saints proves it.
May the Virgin Mary, who lived her faith by faithfully following her Son Jesus, help us too to walk on his path, generously spending our life for him and for our brothers and sisters.
FAUSTI - "Who do men say I am?"
RispondiElimina"But you, who do you say I am?" Jesus asks the disciples and us.
Before everyone asked themselves "Who is he?"
Now He Himself asks: "Who am I for you?".
Christianity is the answer to this question that He asks me.
His provocation is also an examination of sight, to make us see that we need further new eyes. Faith cannot be delegated. Everyone is called to give his own answer, to know him, love him and follow him, even if still imperfectly.
So far Jesus has fulfilled our desires, but almost only to entice us and dispose us to receive a gift that surpasses all our expectations. He has drawn us to Him because we trust Him.
From now on he will begin to give us no more gifts.
Our eye must pass from His empty hand to His Face, and penetrate into His Heart, the source of every gift. God is Love, and nothing else loves but to love and give Himself to the beloved.
The second part of the Gospel will thus present him to us, and will culminate on the Cross, where he will fully accomplish the Revelation of Himself in the gift of Himself.
Our risk is to remain closed in the first part, without ever knowing the Lord.
In fact, we do not seek Him, but His gifts, and we identify Him with them, reducing Him to an idol, coat hanger of our desires or ghost of our fears.
God's wisdom passes through poverty, humiliation and humility; it accepts suffering, repudiation and killing, and so overcomes the evil done by the wisdom of man, who seeks having, power and appearance, causing his own death and that of others.
Peter, like all of us, remains closed in the thought of man.
His clash with Jesus is violent. It will become ever tighter, until the final confrontation.
The cross, made by us and carried by Him, remains the only possible place of encounter.
The journey is slow and difficult, but safe and respectful.
The "Word", denouncing our blindness more and more clearly, places us in the need to ask for light.
This is our greatest gesture of freedom, with which we recognize the truth and put ourselves behind Jesus, always tempted, like Peter, to put ourselves before us.
Jesus is the Pastor who, with His Cross, His staff, leads us to victory over evil and death.
We follow Him as the Word that indicates the path of life, the cloud and the pillar of fire that leads from slavery to freedom. It is the Lord present in our midst.
Love and obedience to Him is our salvation.