The Contrasting Identities
We have been ushered into the 24th Sunday with readings from Isaiah (50:5-9), James (2:14-18) and Mark (8: 27-35) while the Psalmist affirms his position such that amidst the uncertainties of life he will "walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living" (Ps. 116: 9)
The first reading opens with a beautiful declaration: "The Lord has opened my ear" (v. 5a). This declaration with the mention of the ear seem to carry the theme of last Sunday's reading with the whole issue about the 'ephphata' wherein we concluded that listening to God's Word is important. Today's first reading informs us about the challenges in resolving to listen only to God's Word and give it precedence.
This Sunday we have the second part of Isaiah which runs from chapters 40 to 55. Singularly, we have an excerpt from the 3rd Servant song in perspective. This servant suffers humiliation at his resolve to listen to God's voice as he asserts that the Lord has opened his ear. In this delight, I bring to you two responses to listening to God's voice: one submits to the humiliation with hope of deliverance while another group initiates the humiliation.
One particular phrase interests us. Thus, "my cheeks to those who tore out my beard". To tamper with the beard and shave it or tear it is a grave issue. The lack of a full beard is a cause for embarrassment (cf. 2 Sam. 10: 4-5; Isa. 7: 20; Jer. 48: 37). In fact, beardlessness is a sign of mourning (cf. Jer. 41: 5). That this servant's beard has been tampered with is cause for worry because he has been insulted, disgraced, and embarrassed.
In the face of these humiliations, there remains the element of trust and hope in God. This is evident in the twice mention of God as his helper ('âzar) and as the one who will declare him an innocent man (Tsâdiq). This servant will be declared by God as morally upright steming from his total trust in the voice of God made clear for him as he gives undivided attention to God's call.
If we desire to be steadfast, we need to learn to listen undividedly to God's Word. That is where hope flows.
The Gospel also gives us an interesting one. We hear the leading disciple showing resistance by rebuking Jesus for suggesting that suffering, rejection and death would be his lot. The sharp rebuttal from Jesus shows that Peter's understanding of Jesus as the Christ is defective.
The Gospel of Mark, I suggest, highlights weakness, failure and a blur understanding of Christ in Peter who seemed to have answered the question "who do you say that I am?". The person of Peter is an embodiment of two identities. Peter was demonstrative and yet remonstrative.
He refuses the way to resurrection. The way to resurrection is evident in the song of the servant. When this song is brought to the Messianic era, that servant is Christ who accepts suffering, humiliation, embarrassment and death as the way to resurrection.
We always come from far, looking for someone, looking for something. We therefore need to be aware of the fact that the power of God responds to our needs. In our quest to see the power of God responding to what we need, the help we seek, the salvation we long for, we have to accept the way to it. That way is suffering. Life is hence given to one who prepares to die. Life cannot be given if death does not occur.
Happy Sunday.
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