“You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8:29).  

 

The major theme for this 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time centers and explains the basis of our Faith as acceptance of Jesus as the long-expected Christ. The Son of the Living God and our Lord becomes our Savior by His total obedience to fulfill the will of the Father, undergoing great suffering, death and Resurrection for our sake. The readings outline the three conditions of authentic Christian discipleship, namely: (1) denying oneself, (2) taking up one’s cross and (3) following Jesus, imitating Him and conforming to His teachings and guidance. 

 

Our Lord Jesus comes into our world precisely to shatter our wrongful preconceptions of reality, to disappoint popular expectations and to shock the orthodox rigid mentality. Jesus testifies that God is not what the world or society thinks He is, an angry oppressive supreme being. To show that God the Father in Heaven is not of the worldly values and false expectations, Jesus brings to the cross those who love but would not accept Him. In its shadow, people begin to learn the answer to His question, “Who do you say I am?” 

 

People start to understand that in the mystery of innocent suffering endured for the sake of others, our fallen humanity can glimpse the loving kindness and caring presence of a compassionate and merciful God who has not abandoned us, the poor and lowly remnant of His inheritance. For those of us so graciously and undeservedly blessed with Christ’s salvation, our only worthy response to God and Christ is a living and a lived faith.  

 

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topic invites us to proclaim Jesus as the long-expected Christ, the Son of the Living God, our Lord and to become authentic dynamic Christian disciples. 

 

How can we experience Jesus and have faith in Him, take up our crosses, alleviate human suffering and follow Him?

 

Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.