Breaking the Word – Page 2340 – Rev. Dr. Victor Antonyraj SDB

17.02.11 IDENTITY & MISSION

Posted under Reflections on February 16th, 2011 by

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?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Messiah.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. 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. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 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.” (Mk 8:27-33)

This passage is central to the Gospel of Mark. Till now Jesus was preaching the kingdom and doing the works of the kingdom. All these were done in Galilee. Jesus was gathering the people for the true exodus to meet the Lord in Jerusalem. At this juncture Jesus was to know exactly what the people think about him. People’s understanding of Jesus and in particular that of his disciples was important for Jesus.

Jesus is a prophet, announcing the kingdom of God: the long awaited moment when God would rule Israel. All mere human rules, with their mixtures of justice and oppression, mercy and corruption, would fade away. All the healings, the battles with evil, extraordinary feedings, stilling of storms etc are signs that indeed the moment when true God is beginning to exercise his power.

The identity of Jesus clears the view of his mission. As soon as peter confessed his view of Jesus immediately Jesus himself reveals his mission. Peter who was clear about the identity of Jesus fails to understand the mission of Jesus. So the Galilean ministry was to make the disciples understand the identity of Jesus and from now on Jesus has to make his disciple understand his mission in Jerusalem.

16.02.11 THE DISCIPLES SEE

Posted under Reflections on February 15th, 2011 by

When they arrived at Bethsaida, they brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on him and asked, “Do you see anything?” Looking up he replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.” Then he laid hands on his eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly. Then he sent him home and said, “Do not even go into the village.” (Mk 8:22-26)

This miracle story leaves us with many points to reflect upon. Jesus took the blind man away from the people (village); he puts spittle on his eyes: the blind man says that he sees men like trees and walking (which means the blind knows how the trees would look like etc); then Jesus had to lay his hand on him a second time to heal. The healing is done in a process. (it is gradual)

The blind man did not ask for a cure. (They -who?- brought the blind man to Jesus). The only response from the blind man was, “I see people looking like trees and walking.” The blind man seemed to be passive and not interested in anything but just cooperated with what is going around.

Some regard the cure as an intended symbol of the gradual enlightenment of the disciples concerning Jesus’ messiahship. The disciples were slow in understanding (are you slow in understanding) and realizing the messiahship of Jesus. The disciples got their sight.