24.Sunday in Ordibary Time Mk 8.27-35

The question was suddenly heard on the way to Caesarea Philippi when a hot stream of the Palestinian sun poured down from the sky on the heads, and the tired legs would have carried the pilgrim with great joy to the coolness under the trees that grew on the road. “Who do people think I am?” (Mk 8:27). It’s easy to ask non-committal questions that don’t force you to open your heart and answer what others think. “Who do people think I am?”. My God! After all, they have already listened to so much! The disciples immediately start talking to each other: some consider you to be John the Baptist, who, although Herod martyred him, rose from the dead to continue preaching conversion and repentance; for others, you are Elijah or Jeremiah, or others one of the ancient prophets (cf. Mt 16, 14; Mk 8, 28, and Mt 14, 2, Mk 6, 14-16).

Students respond like students when their Teacher asks them questions and only responds with flattering compliments. They are ashamed to say other opinions; they know them very well because they have often heard them shout both to Jesus and themselves. They know that the Pharisees consider Jesus a rebel (see e.g. Mk 11, 28; Lk 19, 39, 23, 2.5, Jn 7, 12; 11, 18), a pagan, and a blasphemer (see, e.g., Mt 26, 6, Lk 6, 7; 11, 38, 13, 14, Jn 8, 59; 10, 31), who openly meets the publicans (Lk 5, 30; 19, 7), even though they all avoid these masters, as selfish people who collaborate with the Roman invaders. They also know that in decent and noble circles, they call him a drunkard and a glutton (cf. Mt 11:19; 9:14), that people laugh at his friendship with sinners and the scum of society (see Mt 9:10-11; 11,19; Mk 2, 15-16; Lk 5, 1-2; they openly say that he is possessed by an evil spirit (cf. Mt 11,18; 12,24 ; Mk 3.22; Lk 1115; Jn 8.48).

Out of respect for their Teacher, the disciples do not even mention these poison-soaked accusations, which, like black crows of hatred, circle around Him and his activities. Yes, Jesus doesn’t even want to know all the details. He knows, perhaps even better than the apostles, what opinion this world has of him. When he asks, “Who do people think I am?” he does not collect materials for his survey about Himself. Instead, he wanted to stir their thinking so that they would evaluate all the “pros” and “against” so that they could answer a kind, much more binding question that he wanted to ask them in a little while. Jesus put off this question for a long time, but in the end he had to ask the apostles, the world, you, me, everyone. “And who do you think I am?” (Mk 8:29). Think about this question. The answer to it is very necessary. Maybe right now. You are an adult. And you have been a Christian for many years. The time has come to drop the mask. To separate yourself from the anonymous crowd that does not have its own opinion of Christ. Who is the Nazarene to you? Do not repeat what you have read in books, heard in speeches, or seen in movies or television.   

While He is for you? For you, that means for your inner “I”, for what is most essential, most holy in you. For what makes up your identity. Who is He for your faith, for your life, for your “today,” and for your “tomorrow”? At Caesarea Filipova, the apostle Peter stepped forward and said: “You are the Messiah” (Mk 8:29). In the Gospel, according to St. In Matthew, this answer is formulated even more clearly and radically: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). Peter solemnly professes his faith in his own name and in the name of his colleagues. He testifies to everyone that he knows what to say about Jesus. For Peter, He is the Messiah, God’s Anointed One who is foretold by the prophets and even more the Son of God. His confession with Cézarey Filipová helps him to know himself. He tells the whole world who his Teacher is and who he is – a disciple of Jesus. With these words, he shows his worldview and accepts all the consequences of this statement. 

They are words and testimonies that bring obligations that organize a person’s life to a certain extent and are built by his destiny and predestination. If Christ is God to me, His words, commandments, teachings, and life examples will be my standard of life, which I must adhere to at all costs. The word “I believe” forces not only my mind to kneel, which recognizes the known truth, but also the will, which, from this moment on, listens to the will of the One in whom I believe. How much food is needed for thought by anyone who has seen God in Christ? Peter hears praise for his confession and receives a great promise. The evangelist Matthew tells us the meaning of this promise (Mt, 16,17-19). But the evangelist Mark, whom we heard today, immediately moves on to a different topic. Through the mouth of the apostle Peter, the disciples confess their faith in Christ’s messianic dignity and divine origin. Jesus should be satisfied by now. Around Him are “his” people. But what do these people mean by the words “Messiah,” an “Son of God,” uttered with such promptness? What plans and expectations are connected with the person of their Teacher? And how they imagine their future with him.

Jesus decided that the time had come for him to be honest, not to hide anything, and to tell them the whole truth about Himself. Then He: “…He began to teach them. The Son of Man must suffer many things, the elders, high priests, and scribes will reject him, they will kill him, but he will rise from the dead after three days” (Mk 8:31). If you’re an outsider, you don’t know much yet. When you stand in the distance, you see everything but the cross. Only when you say “I believe” and “I love” will Jesus tell his disciples the secret of the path you will follow together. This path is not easy. But were the great works accessible? Of course, this journey leads through night and suffering and ends in defeat. After the great week comes the day of resurrection. But who thinks of resurrection when he has only suffering? Peter does not hear the prophecy of the third day’s glory. He is afraid. He takes Jesus aside and begins to explain to him that this is nonsense: the Messiah, the Son of God, and suddenly the cross! When we humans think about it, it’s nonsense. But there is another logic. Jesus sternly admonishes Peter.

Those who have recognized Jesus’ Divine Messiahship must no longer think humanely and react in a human way. They may not understand it. They may not see. They may tremble with fear. But despite all that, they should believe that they will never lose when they walk with Jesus. That means trusting. And the more a person dives into his spiritual life, the more trust is needed. Jesus begins to explain what it means to be a disciple not only to his apostles but to all who gathered around him. How many Christians would be happy to cut this teaching out of the Gospel? Because these words are hard. “Deny yourself” and “take up your cross” (Mk 8:36). But there is no other option. Following is not just a confession of faith in Jesus’ Divinity and focusing on His glories. The Christian’s journey begins with Cézarey Filipova and continues. To Jerusalem, which killed the prophets (Mt 23,27), to the Garden of Gethsemane, and Golgotha. One has to go the whole way and renounce oneself more and more, resembling the Teacher.

For the egoist who evaluates the world and people from the point of view of his interests, who only looks for advantages, for the glutton who is delighted with the ongoing food tables, soft coats, and prominent places (unfortunately, we are all like that) the demands of Jesus are in the daily cross that is mercilessly hitting our skin, in which we feel comfortable without a cross. But such a merciless blow to our skin sometimes does not harm us. Because what we sometimes do can cause death and loss of everything. That’s why we should live and acquire treasures only with Jesus; that means following His path: sacrifice, self-denial, and the cross. The request to accept difficulties is not on Jesus’ part, a manifestation of love for suffering or a dislike for what is close to the human heart; instead, it is a manifestation of the desire to save us all for eternity. Today’s Sunday makes every Christian aware that his path is not as safe and easy as many think. Here, it is necessary to say that you are with God and live a life worthy of your faith. Sometimes, it is effort, cross, and losses. But above all this “loss” for Christ, the Easter bells of the words of Jesus’ promise sound like: “… Whoever loses his life for me and for the Gospel will save it” (Mk 8:35). Let’s try!