TODAY WE COME TO THE HIGH MARK, a climax in Mark's Gospel. Each of the four gospels has its own identity, its own way of presenting the message of Christ. In Mark, it is a gradual re-velation or un-veiling of Jesus' Person and mission. This is indicated by the disciples' consistent lack of understanding of the meaning of Jesus' words and actions. Implied, of course, is that we also lack understanding.

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Eyes being opened

Last Sunday we heard a story of the healing of a deaf and mute man. Today's passage is preceded by the a story of a blind man. He is healed by Jesus in stages. At first he said he could only see people like trees walking and then he was able to see very clearly. All this is a prelude to today's scene.

It is in three parts:

Dialogue and Confession

Prophecy and Reaction

Challenge and Promise

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What do people say about me?

The disciples have now been with Jesus for a while and are getting to know him -- his teaching, his healing, his liberating power and his authority.

He begins by asking them what the general opinion about him is: "Who do people say I am?" They reply: "Some say you are John the Baptist, or Elijah, or one of the prophets. Then he asks them directly: "Who do you say I am?" Peter, speaking in the name of all, says: "You are the Christ." The word 'Christ' comes from a Greek word meaning 'anointed'. The 'Anointed One' is a clear way of referring to the Messiah (which, in Hebrew, also means 'anointed'), the long-awaited liberating King of Israel.

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High point

Clearly, it is a high point in the relationship of Jesus with disciples, but not yet THE high point. That is still to come. And so they are told not to say anything about it yet. People are not ready to hear that Jesus the Rabbi is the Messiah.

At this point, how did the disciples react? How did they feel? Were they happy, over the moon? Was there a feeling of pride, even of smugness, to have such a close relationship with the Messiah-King of Israel? Did they have dreams of power and glory to come?

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A dose of cold water

Then, quite unexpectedly, comes the bucket of cold water! Jesus begins to tell them what being Messiah will mean for him -- and for them. He will suffer greatly, will be rejected by the leaders of his own people, will be executed as a criminal, and on the third day he will rise to life.

This clearly comes as a real shock to the disciples. For them, these words make no sense whatever. This is not the Messiah they were taught to expect.

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A suffering Messiah

They never dreamt that the words of Isaiah in today's First Reading could apply to the Messiah, and still less to Jesus:

"I made no resistance,
neither did I turn away.
I offered my back to those who struck me,
my cheeks to those who tore at my beard;
I did not cover my face against insult and spittle."

Peter - surely acting in the name of all -- steps forward: "This will never happen to you, Master!" Turning and looking at his disciples, Jesus says to Peter (and indirectly to them): "Get behind me, Satan! Your ways of thinking are human, not God's." Peter has become a real temptation, a stumbling block in the way of Jesus' mission and work.

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Turning point

This is a major turning point in the Gospel story. As we read through the first part of Mark's gospel, we were being given the answer to the question: "Who is this Jesus?" Now we know: he is the Messiah-King. But from now on another and more important question will be answered: "What kind of Messiah is Jesus?"

The rest of Mark's account is replying to this question. It will conclude with a pagan soldier at the foot of the cross declaring: "Surely this man is Son of God." It echoes the opening words of Mark: "This is the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God."

It was a slow, painful process for the disciples to change their thinking. It will not fully happen until after the resurrection. We, too, must go through the same process.

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The same way for us

Now, Jesus, addressing the people as well as his disciples, says that not only will he go the way of suffering and death to life but that anyone who wants to be a follower of Jesus must also go the same way.

Many of us try to live on a double track, following a double standard. We want to be morally good people but our values in life are often the same as the rest of society. We are concerned with material plenty, professional success, great careers for our children.

We are, in fact, very busy "saving" our lives, locking in our security. Jesus tells us to let go, to stop clinging, to be really free; to give and not to grab; to share and not to hoard. To see others as brothers and sisters, not as rivals and competitors. We live in a world that is to be reached out to rather than guarded against.

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Who has real faith?

It is the kind of world described by James in today's Second Reading. There are people who claim they have "faith" ("I'm at Mass every Sunday" and "I go to the novena") but this is not backed up by "works", practical behaviour. What good is being deeply religious, if I do not reach out to a world in need?

"Go in peace; keep warm, eat your fill; if there is no bread, eat cake." "Sorry, I can't help you now; I am on my way to church." "I really feel sorry for your plight; don't worry, I'll pray for you."

Faith which is not backed up by compassion and real help is DEAD! We have to give our selves, share what we have, not just offload our surplus. It is not a question of tax-deductible charity where I end up with more than I "gave away". It is a matter of solidarity not just "charity"

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Praying for others - by doing

There is a link here with our Prayers of Intercession at Mass. It is so easy to pray piously for peace, for refugees, for the unemployed, for the poor. Our saying of those prayers should not be just a way of offloading our sense of guilt. It is, rather, a reminder of the things we need to be doing. We are the Body of Christ. It is through Christ in us that these prayers are answered. And the kinds of things we pray for are an indication of where our real priorities lie.

To be a Christian disciple is not primarily to "save my soul" or "go to heaven", but to enter fully into the mainstream of human living and human concerns, to become part of it through loving and sharing and building up with others. It is not a matter of everyone for oneself, but each for the other, one for all and all for one.

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Few winners, many losers

In the rat race approach there are a few winners and many losers. Here is the only real security, which Jesus is proposing to us. If we all let go and live our lives for others, everyone will be taken care of. If we all lived like that what a wonderful society it would be! All gainers, no losers. That is what Jesus is saying today.