24th Sunday B

Welcome to our Bible
Study
24th
Sunday in the Ordinary Time B
13 September 2015
In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy
As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

1st
reading: Isaiah 50:5-9
 5 The Lord opens my ear that I may hear, and I have
not rebelled, have not turned back. 6 I gave my back
to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who
plucked my beard; My face I did not shield from buffets
and spitting. 7 The Lord GOD is my helphelp, therefore I
am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing
that I shall not be put to shame. 8 He is near who
upholds my right; if anyone wishes to oppose me, let
us appear together. Who disputes my right? Let that
man confront me. 9 See, the Lord GOD is my helphelp;
who will prove me wrong?
The focus is on the help of God.

Textual Context of Is 50:5-9 (Boadt)
 First Isaiah - 1-39 (Jerusalem)
 Second Isaiah - 40-55 (Babylon)
 Third Isaiah - 56-66
Second Isaiah chs. 40-55
40 Introduction to the collection of oracles
40-48 Sober in tone
49-55 More sober in tone, they abandon some
characteristic themes of earlier chapters such as
polemics against idolatry and disputes with the
Babylonians. Latter chapters show a strong interest in Zion.

Second Isaiah or
Deutero-Isaiah

1st
 5 The Lord opens
my ear that I may
hear, and I have not
rebelled, have not
turned back. 6 I
gave my back to
those who beat me,
my cheeks to those
who plucked my
beard; My face I did
not shield from
buffets and spitting.
Commentary
 The passage is entitled as the “song
of the suffering servant.”
 In v.5, the suffering servant
acknowledges God’s action in his life:
God opens his ear (gives him
strength and wisdom).
 V.5b indicates how the servant
endures persecution:
 I have not rebelled
 I have not turned back.
 In v.6, he enumerates how he reacts
to his persecutors:
 He does not run away from them.
 He submits himself to their cruelty.

1st
 7 The Lord GOD is my
help, therefore I am not
disgraced; I have set
my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not
be put to shame. 8 He
is near who upholds
my right; if anyone
wishes to oppose me,
let us appear together.
Who disputes my
right? Let that man
confront me. 9 See,
the Lord GOD is my
help; who will prove me
wrong?
 In v.7, the servant affirms God’s
help. Its effects:
 He is not disgraced, he is not put
to shame, or, he is not
devastated.
 Vv.8-9 affirm God’s help
(assistance and defense), when
he is falsely accused.

Reflections on the 1st
reading
 It is hard to suffer quietly without complaining.
 It is hard to endure persecutions without taking
vengeance.
 It is a challenge for us Christians to be like the
suffering servant.
 The suffering servant can endure without lowering
himself down to the level of his persecutors because
he believes God is his help.
 God vindicates and defends us, his suffering
servants, if we believe that he can help us.

Responsorial Ps 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
 R. (9) I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
 1 I love the LORD because he has heard
my voice in supplication,
2 Because he has inclined his ear to me
the day I called.
 3 The cords of death encompassed me;
the snares of the netherworld seized upon me;
I fell into distress and sorrow,
4 And I called upon the name of the LORD,
“O LORD, save my life!”
 5 Gracious is the LORD and just;
yes, our God is merciful.
6 The LORD keeps the little ones;
I was brought low, and he saved me.
 8 For he has freed my soul from death,
my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
9 I shall walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.

Responsorial Ps 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
 R. (9) I will walk before the Lord, in
the land of the living.
 1 I love the LORD because he has
heard my voice in supplication,
2 Because he has inclined his ear to
me the day I called.
 3 The cords of death encompassed
me; the snares of the netherworld
seized upon me; I fell into distress
and sorrow,
4 And I called upon the name of the
LORD, “O LORD, save my life!”
 5 Gracious is the LORD and just;
yes, our God is merciful.
6 The LORD keeps the little ones;
I was brought low, and he saved me.
 8 For he has freed my soul from
death, my eyes from tears, my feet
from stumbling.
9 I shall walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
Commentary
 The psalm represents well the
feeling of a servant who triumphs
over his sufferings and enemies,
because of God’s help.
 In vv.1-2, the psalmist expresses
his love to the Lord because he has
heard him in his prayers.
 V.3 indicates what the psalmist has
undergone (death threats, distress,
sorrow).
 V.4 indicates how the psalmist
prayed.
 In v.5, the psalmist affirms God is
just and merciful.
 In v.6, the psalmist affirms that God
takes side with the humiliated.
 In v.8, the psalmist affirms the
liberating role of God.
 In v.9, the psalmist makes a
promise to live a righteous life, an
exemplary life.

Reflection on the Psalm
 We, suffering Christians, can appropriate the psalm.
 It is a prayer of thanksgiving after enduring
sufferings, with God’s help.
 In this prayer, we affirm God’s goodness and saving
power.
 God rescues us from death and raises us from
ashes and humiliations.

2nd
reading: James 2:14-18
 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he
has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save
him?  15 If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and
has no food for the day,  16 and one of you says to
them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you
do not give them the necessities of the body, what
good is it?  17 So also faith of itself, if it does not have
works, is dead. 18 Indeed someone might say, "You
have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith
to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to
you from my works.
The focus is on faith and works.

Textual Context of James 2:14-18
DIVISION ACCORDING TO CONTENTS (TOPICS): (R. Brown)
 1:1: Greetings (Opening Formula)
 1:2-18: The role of trials and temptations
 1:19-27: Words and deeds
 2:1-9: Partiality toward the rich
 2:10-13: Keeping the whole Law
 2:14-26: Faith and works
 3:1-12: Power of the tongue
 3:13-18: Wisdom from above
 4:1-10: Desires as the cause of division
 4: 11-12: Judging one another as judging the Law
 4:13-17: Further arrogant behaviour
 5:1-6: Warning to the rich
 5:7-11: Patience till the coming of the Lord
 5:12-20: Admonitions on behaviour within the community

2nd
reading: James 2:14-18
 14 What good is it, my brothers,
if someone says he has faith but
does not have works? Can that
faith save him?  15 If a brother
or sister has nothing to wear and
has no food for the day,  16 and
one of you says to them, "Go in
peace, keep warm, and eat
well," but you do not give them
the necessities of the body, what
good is it?  17 So also faith of
itself, if it does not have works,
is dead. 18 Indeed someone
might say, "You have faith and I
have works." Demonstrate your
faith to me without works, and I
will demonstrate my faith to you
from my works.
Commentary
 This is the most famous part of
James’ Letter.
 Faith and works go together.
 Faith without works is dead
(useless). It is totally irrelevant.
 Work here means giving justice to
the poor, sensitivity to their needs.
V.15
 Faith to be alive does not leave
the poor behind. V.16
 Faith must be accompanied with
charity. V.17
 James exhorts us to show our
faith in actions. V.18

Reflections on the 2nd reading
 Faith is not just an intellectual assent on the existence
of God.
 Faith has a social dimension. It is not directed only to
God, but also to our neighbors, especially the poor.
 Our faith, if it is to be a true faith, has to be keen on
the needs of the poor.
 Faith is commitment to give justice to the oppressed.
 Faith is not a wishy washy thing. It leads you to social
responsibility.

Gospel reading: Mark 8:27-35
 27 Now 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?“  28 They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others one of the prophets.“  29 And he asked them, "But who
do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the
Messiah.“  30 Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.
31 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.  32 He spoke this openly. Then
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.  33 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.“  34 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.  35 For whoever wishes to save his life
will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the
gospel will save it.
The focus is on the identity of Jesus.

What people say about Jesus
 27 Now 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?“  28
They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the
prophets.“
What the apostles say about Jesus
 29 And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in
reply, "You are the Messiah.“
1st
prediction of his passion, death and resurrection
 30 Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.  31 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.  32 He spoke this openly.
Peter’s objection
 Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.  33 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.“
Cost of Discipleship
 34 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.  35 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses
his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.

Textual Context of Mark 8:27-35
Part I The Mystery of the Messiah: Revelation of Jesus' Person (1,14--8,30)
Three sections, each beginning with a summary of the activity of Jesus and a narrative
concerning the disciples and concluding with the adoption of an attitude in regard
to Jesus.
A. Jesus and the Crowds 1,14--3,6 (1,14f, 16-20; 3,60)
B. Jesus and his Own 3,7--6,6a (3,7-12.13-19; 6,1-6a)
C. Jesus, the Disciples and the Gentiles 6,6b- 8,30 (6,6b; 6,7-31; 8,27-30)
Conclusion and Transition 8,27-33
Confession of Peter
First Prophecy of the Passion
Correction of Peter
Part II The Mystery of the Son of Man: Revelation of Jesus' sufferings 8,31-16,8
A. The Way of the Son of Man 8,31--10,52
Indicated by 3 announcements of the fate of the Son of Man and 3 instructions
on the lot of the disciples.
B. Jesus in Jerusalem 11,1--13,37
C. Passion and Resurrection 14,1--16,8
The Later Ending 16,9-20

 27 Now 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?“
28 They said in reply, "John
the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others one of the
prophets.“ 29 And he
asked them, "But who do
you say that I am?" Peter
said to him in reply, "You
are the Messiah.“ 30 Then
he warned them not to tell
anyone about him.
Commentary
 V.27 indicates where Jesus and
companions are going:
 Villages of Caesarea Philippi (in the
North, at the foot of Mt. Hermon).
 In v.27b, Jesus asks his disciples who
he is according to the people.
 In v.28, the disciples reply:
 He is John the Baptist
 Elijah
 One of the prophets
 In v.29, Jesus asks his disciples their
own opinion about him.
 In v.29b, Peter answers (in behalf of
the apostles):
 You are the Messiah (= Christ).
 In v.30, Jesus asks them to keep it
among themselves only. (to keep it
secret, why?)

Gospel reading: Mark 8,27-35
 31 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. 32 He spoke this
openly. Then Peter took him
aside and began to rebuke
him. 33 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.“
 In v.31, Jesus predicts what will
happen to himself:
 Must suffer
 Be rejected
 Be killed
 Must rise after three days.
 V.32 gives a short note about this
information. It is not a secret.
 V.32b indicates that Peter cannot
accept this and tries to prevent
Jesus from proceeding to
Jerusalem.
 In v.33, Jesus reacts to Peter.
 He calls him Satan.
 Peter has not changed his way of
thinking, still thinking like
humans, not like God.

 34 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. 35 For
whoever wishes to save
his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for
my sake and that of the
gospel will save it.
 In v.34, Jesus faces
other people (crowd)
with the disciples, to
address about
discipleship.
 In.35, Jesus indicates
the importance of
following him and the
gospel, over self-
preservation.

Commentary, con’t
 The text is at the center of Mark’s gospel, the
turning point of his gospel.
 It deals with the identity of Jesus.
 Mis-identifying him can have undesirable effects,
may lead to different conclusions, expectations
and theology.
 It is Jesus himself who takes the initiative to ask:
 People’s answers: not correct, inaccurate
 Peter’s answer: correct
 Yet, Peter’s correct answer does not lead him to
the correct conclusions yet.

 As of this moment, he understands the messiahship of
Jesus differently.
 Jesus clarifies what kind of Messiah he is.
 He is not the one whom they expect (political Messiah,
triumphal).
 Acceptance of him as the suffering Messiah (suffering
servant) will lead his disciples to accept also their own
sufferings as a result of following him.
 To know Jesus’ identity is to continue listening to him and
journeying with him. Until when?
 The whole gospel of Mark will tell us the story of Jesus till
his crucifixion and our own.

Reflections on the gospel reading
 We must know who Jesus really is.
 Our poor knowledge of him will lead us to poor
actions.
 The basic source of our knowledge of him are the
gospels.
 The apostles through Peter got him right because they
were journeying with him all the time since they were
called.
 Jesus challenged them to join and risk their lives also
in Jerusalem. There, they would come to know him
more. His whole picture would be unfolded.
 The apostles’ destiny, too, will be revealed.
 True disciples of the Lord will suffer the same fate, but
will have the same reward.

Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
 The first reading focuses on the help of God.
 The psalm affirms God’s help in times of trouble.
 The second reading focuses on faith and works.
 The gospel reading focuses on the identity of Jesus.
 Well, we should concentrate on the identity of Jesus.
This will dictate how we live as his disciples.

How to develop your homily or sharing
 Begin by sharing the one you know best (maybe your friend
or your idol). You don’t have to mention his/her name.
 Then, share how you have come to know him/her very
well. (through constant communications, visits, recollections,
parties, listening to other people who knows about him/her,
allowing him/her to reveal his/her past, etc., giving him/her
freedom and to be himself/herself = real friendship).
 As a result of a right knowledge, you come to love /
treasure the person more. You can represent him/her
more. You are in a better position to explain his/her
position, if needed. You can be committed to that person
more.

 Do you know Jesus? How much do you know him? How
did you come to know him?
 Relate your own experience as a pastor. I come to know
more about Jesus:
 when I prepare my homily, when I read and meditate on the
gospel texts, when I review my theology.
 when I listen to people share their own experience about him, how
he touched their lives.
 when I go to the poor and mix with them.
 when I journey and dialogue with great theologians (through their
books and writings, listening to their talks when they come) and
take seriously my on-going formation.
 when I willingly accept inconveniences, sufferings, persecutions,
hazards in my profession…
 when I pray
 when I am with my colleagues

 Now challenge the people to know Jesus more:
 Encourage them to join regular bible studies.
 Encourage them to study theology.
 Encourage them to demand from the assigned
priests and brothers to give them inputs on Jesus.
 Encourage them to prepare ahead of time the
readings for the mass.
 Ask the church organizations, parochial and
trans-parochial, to be Christ-centered, to be
guided by those who know more about Jesus.

 Christians should be well-educated in their faith, not
just “practitioners” of faith which they don’t understand
at all.
 We don’t want Christians to be ignorant in their faith.
These people will make us do what is unnecessary in
the church.
 Our Christian communities should not allow
themselves to be led by people who don’t attend
seminars and on-going formation, who don’t read
articles on faith.
 The Christian community will be able to know Jesus
more when they journey with Jesus in his mission and
in his crucifixion.

 The eucharist is the center of our Christian lives.
 When we say Amen at communion, we are
accepting our responsibility to know him more.
 In the eucharist, we want to show that we are
responsible to lesser brothers and sisters, through
concrete actions in our community.
 The eucharist strengthens us in our struggle to
follow Jesus and die with him at Calvary.

Our Context of Sin and Grace
 Irrelevant faith
 Dichotomized faith
 Pietism, no commitment
 More on beautifications,
externals, less on
fraternity
 Engaged faith
 Committed Christians
 Social action
 Learned Christians
 Evangelized Christians
 Willing to suffer and die

Suggested Songs
 Glory to God (Cielo/Chito)
 http://youtu.be/lmTlVfELBeo
 Follow Christ by Sebastian Temple
 Kristo
 I love the Lord by Manoling Francisco

24th Sunday B

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24th Sunday B