READ SCRIPTURE (Mark 8:31-38)
Jesus began to teach them that the Son-of-Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. Jesus said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, Jesus rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son-of-Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
REFLECT ON THE READING
In Mark, Jesus’ identity is a secret until it is told openly in the church after his death and resurrection. But in today’s Gospel reading, the first of three “passion predictions” in Mark, Jesus speaks boldly and openly about that coming death. All three of the passion predictions are accompanied with words about our discipleship.
Today, resisting Peter, Jesus makes clear that this discipleship involves honesty about death. “Taking up the cross” is not self-torture. There is already enough suffering in the world. Rather it is telling the truth that we die and it is being ready to suffer for the gospel if we must. So Peter did suffer martyrdom. But death is never the last word. By the power of the Spirit poured out from Christ’s death, we are brought to faith like the faith of Abraham — trust in the God who gives life to the dead; trust from two old people who were “as good as dead.”
In the resurrection, Jesus our Lord is made alive. By baptism God makes us alive together with Christ. Like Abraham and Sarah, we too are given a new identity: we are named children of God and co-heirs with Christ. And we are turned in love and service towards all those many people who are being invited also to trust in God like Abraham and Sarah.
PRAY TOGETHER
O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life. Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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