Isaiah 50: 5-9; Psalm 114(116); James 2: 14-18; Mark 8: 27-35
Second Isaiah was writing during the exile in Babylon. Israel had lost land, king, and Temple. But Isaiah confidently proclaims hope of returning to Jerusalem: have no fear, whatever ills beset us, God is on our side and will save us.
The Psalm offers an individual’s grateful praise to the Lord: in danger of death he trusted in the Lord who saved him.
James’ letter develops last week’s theme of what faith is: real faith cannot help but be expressed in good works. James insists that you cannot show you have faith without showing the good works it produces. He then gives examples: Abraham, who offered Isaac; and Rahab the prostitute, who protected Joshua’s spies in Jericho. Both were justified by their works of faith. This message challenges us today: is giving money enough?
For the first time in Mark’s Gospel a human being acknowledges Jesus as the Christ. But then Peter immediately gets it wrong and is severely chastised by Jesus: God’s ways are not our ways. Jesus has to suffer the humiliation Isaiah described to show the way we must follow to salvation. The way of the Cross is the only way, and we must imitate Jesus’ faith in his Father and follow his way in faith.
Psalm Response: I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.
(Isaiah 50: 5-9; Psalm 114(116); James 2: 14-18; Mark 8: 27-35)