Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, B

	Isaiah 50: 4c-9a
	Psalm 116
	James 2: 14-18
	Mark 8: 27-35  MYM#23, Come Follow Me

The readings today connect at the Passion.  In the First Reading, the third “servant song” 
from the Book of the prophet Isaiah is read.  We are familiar with this text because it is 
read every year on Passion/Palm Sunday.  There are some additional verses read on this 
Sunday, verses that affirm that “See, the Lord God is my help; who will prove me 
wrong?” The Repsonsorial Psalm picks up that affirmation by singing, “I will walk before 
the Lord in the land of the living.”  It testifies, “God has freed my soul from death!”  The 
Gospel tells of Peter’s confession of Jesus’ messiahship, followed immediately by Jesus 
telling of his impending passion, death, and resurrection.  Peter’s reaction to this is to 
rebuke Jesus; in his turn, Jesus does some pretty stern rebuking:  “Get behind me, Satan; 
you are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”  Why did Jesus feel the 
necessity of putting Peter’s confession into the context of Holy Week?  Because the 
whole notion of what the “Messiah” was to be was so politically charged for those who 
lived in his day, it was necessary to nuance what being “Messiah” would entail for him—
and for the disciples.  Certain scholars assert that the “cross” which Jesus tells the crowd 
they must “take up” was actually the branding mark that showed ownership of livestock.  
Before the Passion, it would have said to Jesus’ followers, “You don’t belong to yourself, 
but to God—so daily affirm that.”  After the passion and resurrection, of course, it would 
be heard in the context of Jesus’ sufferings and death for our sake.

Caeserius, bishop of Arles, relates:

 “What does this mean, ‘take up a cross?’  It means that one will bear with whatever is 
troublesome, and in this very act will be following Christ.  When one has begun to follow 
Christ according to His teaching and precept, many people will be found standing in the 
way, who will deride and persecute…[these are] not only pagans, you see, but also those 
who seem visibly within the Church (but are truly outside it because of the perversity of 
their deeds)…if you wish to follow Christ, do not delay in carrying His cross.”

The Second Reading continues our examination of the Epistle of James.  Today the writer 
goes into the nature of faith.  It is apparent here that James is defining faith in a different 
sense from what Paul does in Romans or Galatians.  There, Paul affirms that faith is a 
lively trust that what God promised us would come to pass.  Here, James uses faith in the 
sense of ‘intellectual assent’  (i.e., the person who can affirm, “I know that God exists”). 
James says that this faith, without the living that goes along with it, is truly dead.  He 
gives a concrete example of this, and then challenges us to show forth faith that lives in 
good works.

This hymn is based on today’s Scriptures:
Israel, God's suff'ring servant,
Gave his back and cheeks to scorn,
Knowing God would be his savior,
Though his pain be sharp as thorn.

Jesus, witnessed to by Peter
As the Christ, told of the cross;
When rebuked for this, he told them:
Life, for them, must first be lost.

Faith, if living, must be working
For the good and care of all;
If we lack concern, we're lifeless,
Heedless of the Savior's call.

Daily taking cross, denying
Self and following the Lord,
Serving God by loving neighbor--
Thus we live his saving word.

        87.87.    
        suggested tune:  Stuttgart

Propers from the Roman Gradual

Introit:  Da pacem (Sirach 36:16)
Give peace, O Lord God, to those who wait for you,
and let your prophets be found faithful and trustworthy.
Hearken to the prayers of your servants, and of your people Israel.
	I was glad when they said to me,
	“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

Offertory:  Sanctificavit Moyses (Ex. 24: 4-5)
Moses consecrated an altar to the Lord,
and presented thereupon burnt offerings and sacrificial victims;
he made an evening sacrifice as a fragrant offering to the Lord,
in the presence of the sons of Israel.

Communion:  Qui vult venire (Mt 16:24)
(matches the Gospel in Year B)
Whoever wishes to come after me, let him deny himself
and take up his cross and follow me.

Propers from the Simple Gradual

The suite of antiphons and psalms from Ordinary Time VI 
(BFW 269–274, as well as BFW 232–234 and 241–243) — 
God’s peace and loving kindness — is especially appropriate.

Entrance: BFW 269 (Give peace, O Lord, in our days . . . )
Response: BFW 532 (I will please the Lord . . . )
Offertory: BFW 398 (The Lord, the Most High . . . )
Communion: BFW 436 (If any want to become my followers . . . ) 
    or BFW 124 (I will take the cup of salvation . . . ) 
    or BFW 255 (We worship you, O Lord, in your holy temple)