24e Sunday B – Will You Still Follow Me?

Isaiah 50: 5-9a | Ps 116 | Jas 2:14-18 | Mc 8:27-35

In general, children make good confession; but hearing their first reconciliation is another story. Most of the time, it’s interesting; but sometimes, it can be full of surprises. Most of them get nervous and hardly say the right words. Sometimes, they take time before beginning, and when they are asked to begin, some may say: “Father, I don’t even know what I am supposed to say!” Some who know sometimes say: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. This is my first confusion!”

Confusion! We all have things that confuse us. Don’t we?

In Jesus’ time, people were confused. Some knew for sure that He was the son of Joseph, the carpenter; but so many others had a lot of ideas about Him. They regarded Him as a political messiah, a teacher, a healer, a wonderworker, a prophet, a king, a master; even Herod got perplexed because some were saying that Jesus was John that has been raised from the dead. He said, John, I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?

He was confused, along with so many other people. For them, Jesus was Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. All this confusion led to one question: “Who is Jesus?” Guess what! Jesus was aware of that. In today’s Gospel, He asked his disciples a sort of survey question: “Who do people say that I am?”

In fact, Jesus was not really interested in people’s answer. He was just testing them to see if they were affected by the confusing ideas of people around Him. His most important question was the second one: “Who do you say that I am?”

On behalf of the other Eleven, Simon got the right answer: “You are the Christ!” St Matthew adds: “The Son of the living God!” But what Christ? What Son?

Anyways, Jesus was not a populist figure, influenced by the fleeting opinions and desires of the crowds. His messianic mission was all about selfless service and sacrificial love, as Isaiah prophesized in the first reading, called “The Third Song of the Suffering Servant.” It mentions an innocent person who willingly took on the guilt of his fellowmen and suffered on their behalf: “I offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore at my beard.” Failure, suffering, crucifixion, death… there are things that Simon did not foresee and refused to accept.

Like many of his contemporaries, Simon was expecting a Messiah-king, triumphant, glorious, and powerful who would drive the Roman occupier out of the country once and for all. So what Jesus announced was unacceptable. Peter opposed. Such things cannot happen to the almighty God! I almost say this was his “true first denial”, his first refusal to follow the Messiah in suffering.

And what did Jesus do? He faced this refusal as a real temptation for Himself and He rebuked Simon: “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do: Get behind me, Satan!’

Here we are with our own confusion… Simon just made Jesus happy by giving Him the correct answer about His very identity; and, in turn, Jesus just made him the first pope of the Church; but now, less than one minute, Jesus called him Satan. But take it easy; don’t be too confused. Jesus didn’t mean that Simon was the Devil. He used a Greek word, Satana, which means, an obstacle, a voice of the enemy. It’s like Jesus was saying to Simon: “Get back in line. I am not your follower, but you are my follower. So, you must renounce your willfulness and actually follow Me! Think as I think! Walk God’s way not your own. Instead of saying ‘I will follow’ and then resisting whenever it’s challenging, be consistent.” God’s plan of salvation doesn’t accommodate a triumphant, but a crucifying Messiah; however, the Cross is not an end, but a means to the end. I know you will love seeing me in my transfigured glory, but you must prepare yourself to see me in my terrified agony.”

Simon objected; he didn’t want to lower himself; and you know what came next: when Jesus was on trial, and people asked if he knew Jesus, he didn’t confess Him as friend and master, Messiah and Son of God, as he just did, but he will deny Jesus three times.

What about you and I? Aren’t we Simon? Doesn’t he symbolize each one of us?

We know and follow Jesus. But, what happens when suffering overwhelms us, and Jesus invites us to follow in His footsteps? This is probably the moment when the Satan, that is our inner temptations, prompts us to seek pleasure and self-glory, rather than self-renunciation.

We know Jesus. But, what happens when our cross comes in the form of old age? An incurable disease? The loss of a loved one or something dear to us? Financial issue? Family struggles? Alcohol or drug addiction? Loneliness and lack of meaning in life? 

Like Simon, we can all be “fair-weather” friends to Jesus. We may want to follow Him only when it’s easy. But faith is not just something we get, or choose, or have; it’s also something we are, we live, and we do. It’s part of us. Faith is not just circumstantial but intentional. We cannot be faithful for a time; that is, only when things are going well. We cannot be Jesus’ friends only on Mount Tabor; we should stay with Him also in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Faith means seeking and questioning. Indeed, Jesus encouraged questions. So many people brought their questions to Him: What is truth? Are you the king of the Jews, the Messiah, the Son of God? Should we obey the Jewish Law, and what is most important in it? Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath, to divorce, to pay taxes? Who is our neighbor? 

As for us, we might have questions, such as: I am so faithful, our family is so kind: why does this happen to us? It’s only a child, why him? Why her? Why does my spouse serve me paper? Why? Why? Why?

Jesus had His answers; indeed, He is the Answer. But He also had His own questions, such as: What is your name? Who touched me? What are you looking for? Can you see now? What do you wish? How many loaves do you have? Will you follow me, or will you leave me also? You are the teacher of Israel and you don’t understand this?

This morning, Jesus has a question for each one of us, a double one: The same question He asked the Twelve: “Who do you say that I am? And if I Am your Lord, then will you follow Me?”

Challenge: In all circumstances, good and bad, are your minds set on Divine things? This week, reflect upon this question. And, if they are not, try to align yourself with God’s will.