17/09/2006 - TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME - Year B
First Reading Isaiah 50:5-9a Psalm 114/115
Second Readig James 2:14-18 Gospel Mark 8:27-35
The Seventh Commandment, Thou shall not steal", is so explicit, that there
should be no need for further explanation. It would only seem right that everyone
would be aware that stealing should be avoided: those who steal, in fact, try
hard to hide what they've done, not only when stealing or defrauding is consistent,
but also when it is insignificant. Thou shall not steal! This commandment touches
on our relationship with things, but our relationship with things shows what
kind of relationship we have with others, and with ourselves! Stealing takes
place when we regard things or money more important than people, and than our
own inner peace. It is certainly a deception and, therefore a temptation, to
want what belongs to others and which they need, to sustain them. The wish to
have things or money takes us to a place where we demean and destroy those around
us. This is why St. Paul wrote: "The love of money is the root of all kinds
of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich, some have wandered away from the
faith and pierced themselves with many pains." (1 Tim 6:10). Yearning for
money and riches, even, makes us renege our faith! In fact, this yearning is
a form of idolatry, which places money or wealth in the place of God. In this
case, money becomes dangerous because, not only can it be stolen, but it robs
us of our the faith in our heart. A particular case, at least in Italy, is that
many widows/widowers co-habit, outside of marriage, so as not to lose the pensions
of their deceased spouse. In this case, faith becomes second to money, because
it appears that it is more important than God's blessings on their own lives.
The words of the Apostle James are, always, present and necessary. Faith must
find its concreteness, it must become visible; otherwise, it is a useless toy.
What makes our faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, visible are acts of charity.
He calls them "deeds": "By my deeds I will prove to you that
I have faith"! He, who says that he has faith, but does nothing to make
it visible, instead of having faith, has an illusion of faith. Perhaps, this
is why St. Paul tells us that faith is obedience. He who believes, obeys the
Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore, begins to serve, to love others, even at a
cost to himself. Giving one's self is not a problem for the one who believes,
because he contemplates the true Lord on the Cross, and loves Him, as He dies
on the Cross.
Today's Gospel presents the true faith to us, with all its implications, and
its fruits of a love capable of offering one's self. True faith in Jesus is
not based on sentiments or devotions, but in knowing the person of Jesus. "Who
do people say I am?" He asks the disciples. The answer given comes close,
but it is not sufficient. The people say the Jesus is someone who was raised
from the dead, someone they already know, who died and came back to life. But
if the people think that Jesus is Elijah come back to life, we already know
everything about Elijah and, therefore, we have nothing more to learn and, above
all, nothing to change. "But you, who do you say I am?" Jesus replies.
Answering this question is so much more difficult that, only, Peter replies,
but not even, he knows what he is saying: "You are the Christ". This
affirmation is the base of our faith, the true faith, but only when it is understood
in the true sense, according to the Word of God. This affirmation is understood
when we are aware of what it means to pronounce it, what it means to be a disciple
of the One who is "the Christ". To be Christ means to be the one which
the prophets say must "suffer greatly, must be tried by the elders, by
the high priests and the scribes, then be killed and, after three days, he must
rise again". In the First Reading, Isaiah reveals something of this mystery.
Believing that Jesus is the Christ means to take up His cross and follow Him,
without fear of losing one's own life, of being tried and tossed aside by the
very people who matter. Peter reveals that he did not understand the meaning
of his own answer, at all: in fact, He took Jesus to be Himself because of the
affirmations based on the Holy Scriptures. Peter's dream is to live comfortably,
surrounded by human glory, satisfied in ambition and in his desire of grandeur.
He believes that Jesus is the Christ, but under those conditions! Those are
Satan's conditions, Jesus answers. It is Satan who seeks the glory of men, while
the Christ seeks obedience to the Scriptures, obedience of faith to God's design.
God's design is to save mankind through the Cross of His Son.
I have true faith, and my faith is not a toy, when I accept that Jesus saves
the world, through His Cross, and therefore, I give myself in collaboration,
I give myself to suffering with Him for the sins of the world. It is because
of this that James strongly urges us to show our acts of faith through our deeds,
through acts of obedience to the love of the Lord by caring for the needs of
the poor, by serving them and being ready to give of ourselves, even in sacrifice,
so as to fulfill the compassion of God. Jesus' disciple does all of this for
his Lord, so that all may know the true meaning of being the Christ!