SCRIPTURE FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
                        24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9
    In this section of the book of the prophet Isaiah, we have a series of prophetic poems which describe the future Messiah.  He is depicted as a faithful Suffering Servant of God.  He is to be God's faithful, obedient Servant who is to suffer greatly in the carrying out of his mission.
    In today's reading, the Suffering Servant is speaking; he is obedient to God in all things.  He will not run away in difficult times, even though he will be mistreated, and he will not turn away from humiliations.  He knows that all that he does and suffers, he is doing for God.  He proclaims that God is with him.  Who can convict him of any evil?  He is safe in God's hands.
     This is a remarkable statement, since there is no suggestion in this reading that God will take away his suffering.  Instead, God is present with him as he suffers, and, because of this, suffering actually strengthens him.  How many of us have witnessed the quiet suffering of a loved one, as they fought valiantly to keep up their spirits?  A deep faith and trust in God allows the human spirit to endure many challenges.  "The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced..." (v.7). In prayer, let us turn to God to ask for the courage and strength to continue forward in our journey of faith.  With God at our right hand, "...we shall not be disgraced."

Second Reading: James 2:14-18
    Two weeks ago, we heard from the Letter of James that Christians "must be doers of the word, not hearers only."  Today's reading is a continuation of that thought. The faith that Christ left us is not a collection of theological thoughts, but a way of living our lives based on Jesus' revelation to us.  We can accept the truths left to us by Christ, but we are also called to carry them out in the actions of our everyday life.
    Our faith finds expression in our works of love towards others; love of Christ calls us to reach out to all people.  If we do not care for, nor help, those whom we consider to be family or friend, how concerned asnd caring will we be towards those whom we consider to be outsiders?  Jesus dies for all mankind, including his enemies-those who tormented and crucified him.
    Even the simple gesture of offering a glass of cold water to those who are laboring outdoors in 100-degree weather, checking in on the elderly neighbor who lives alone or donating food to the local food pantry are actions that are expected of us, if we are able to be called true followers of love: How did we treat others and how well did we follow Jesus' command to "love one another as I have loved you?"
     Recall the familiar hymn, "Whatsoever you do to the least of my people...that you do unto me..."  Jesus tells us, "I assure you as long as you did it to one of these little ones, you did it to me."  In today's society, there are increasing numbers of homeless people as well as low-income families who are struggling for food, lonely people in convalescent homes and the imprisoned who long to see the faces of Christ.  Perhaps you know of someone in that situation.  Christ is waiting for us to put our faith into practice.  Lord, help us to take action. Amen.

Gospel: Mark 8:27-35
     Jesus teaches his disciples the most important lesson they have to learn: who he is.  Jesus asks the disciples what people are saying about him and who they think he is.  He was not being self-serving: he truly wanted to know how his teachings and actions were being understood by the people.  At this point of his earthly mission, Christ begins preparing his disciples for his passions and death, and for the need of accepting suffering in their lives.
     People thought many things about Jesus.  Many seemed to believe that Jesus was a religious prophetic figure who had come back from the dead.  This belief most likely stemmed from all the miracles they had witnessed him perform.  Only Peter sees beyond that and calls him "The Christ," and "The Messiah."  Jesus admits the truth of Peter's declaration, but tells the disciples that he did not want this fact to be known quite yet.
     Jesus now begins to teach about his identity and what is required to be a disciple.  He also foretells of the sufferings and death he will have to endure.  To Peter, this is incredible, and he tells Jesus of his objections.  Peter and the apostels were still worldly-minded.  Jesus rebukes Peter for his very human outlook on Christ's mission.  Jesus teaches them that discipleship means accepting the suffering which the following of his teachings brings.
     Discipleship means moving out of our comfort zone and denying the call of the world to care for those in need.  The world calls us to focus on ourselves and our self-preservation.  Christ calls us to do the opposite: to serve others through self-sacrifice.  As noted in the Letter of James, the opportunities are many.  Christ is in the needy, the downtrodden, the illegal immigrant, the homeless, the imprisoned.  Who Jesus is for us becomes the real question.  Who are we willing to let him be in our lives?