Daily Gospel Reflection - Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Daily Gospel Reflection - Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Daily Gospel Reflection - Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Friends, with our readings from this weekend, we are on very holy ground because we're dealing with the imagery, symbolism, and theology of the suffering servant. Yes, he is the one who will bring God's salvation to all the world, but he will do it by bearing the pain and suffering of the world.

September 12, 2021 

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Gospel: Mk 8: 27-35 

Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes or save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.” 

Source: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 

Bishop Robert Barron

Friends, today’s Gospel reports Peter’s confession of faith. In the midst of his disciples, Jesus asks that strange question: “Who do people say that I am?” What he gets by way of response is, first, a public opinion survey: some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. 

Then Jesus turns to those closest to him, and he asks them, “But who do you say that I am?” They are silent, afraid, unwilling to speak. Finally it is Peter who says: “You are the Christ.” And he gets it right. Does he get it right because he is the most intelligent? Please. Because he is holy and close to Jesus? No. We know the whole story of Peter’s weakness, which is marked by betrayal and stupidity. It is the Father who has given Peter this insight—not Peter’s clever mind or searching heart. 

It is a supernatural gift, a special charism. And it is upon Peter and this inspired confession that the Church is built.