Today is the twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Today’s Gospel is St. Mark’s version of Peter’s Confession. Jesus asks the disciples who people say that He is and then He asks them, and us, who we say that He is. Unlike St. Matthew’s version of this event (Mt 16) Mark does not include how Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter and says that He (Jesus) will build His Church upon the rock of Peter. Instead St. Mark includes the need for us to pick up our cross and follow Him (Jesus).
This picking up of the cross is central to following Jesus and advancing in the spiritual life. We have an initial conversion at some point but then, at least Catholics believe, we have to have an ongoing conversion. It’s that daily ongoing conversion that involves our cross. Day in and day out we have to overcome our tendency to sin and all that goes with it. If we don’t we’re in danger of becoming lukewarm, or possibly cultural, Christians. It is that ongoing conversion that gives us the opportunity to advance spiritually and grow in holiness. For those of us who hope to avoid Purgatory this is the only way, unless we were to die immediately after baptism or after Confession, and no one wants that.
The other item of interest in today’s readings is the second reading, from St. James, about faith and works. Martin Luther was so concerned about a dependence on works that he wanted to remove the entire letter of James from the canon of Scripture. Fortunately for all Christians he wasn’t successful Bishop Barron’s homily this week talks at length about Luther and today’s second reading. https://www.wordonfire.org/videos/sermons/faith-without-works-is-dead/
I’m writing this on Friday morning prior to your parish centennial celebration tomorrow afternoon. Know of my prayers for the entire parish and for the special guests who will be there. Blessed Sacrament is always close to my heart as are all of you.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading.
I hope you have a great week.
Peace, Bob
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