HOMILY FOR THE 24TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B
HOMILY FOR THE 24TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: “YOU ARE THE CHRIST.”
BY: Bishop Anthony Ewherido
Isaiah 50: 5-9, Ps. 116, James 2: 14-18, Mark 8:27-35
Peter’s confessional response to Jesus’ question, “who do you say that I am?” generated a teaching by Jesus to his disciples on a balanced response of faith in discipleship. First the question implies that Jesus expects his disciples to have a personal knowledge of him, based on our friendship and intimacy with him; a functional relationship. That is different from the general perception out there, in response to the question, “who do people say I am?” That personal relationship is, however, incomplete if our knowledge of Christ is only on the basis of a comfortable encounter.
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There is a second side to it that must be experienced through suffering; his suffering, our own sufferings; his cross, our own crosses. Until we can identify with both sides of the coin, our confession is only half truth. We embrace, not just the risen Christ, but also the crucified one, the suffering Servant of God, who came as one of us and suffered humiliation while bearing our physical and spiritual infirmities, as Isaiah pointed out in his Suffering Servant songs. Such faith must also yield fruits in positive actions that reach out in charity to others, love that soothes the pains and sufferings of others through the generous sharing of our resources. Just as we embrace the cross of Christ and own crosses, we must be keenly aware of our responsibility toward others as they are crushed by the weight of the crosses that they bear, and lend a helping hand, without counting the cost or being dissuaded by the gravity of our own crosses.
Lord, strengthen and broaden our shoulders to bear the crosses that come our way. Amen.
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