Isaiah 50: 5-9; Ps 114: 1-6, 8-9; James 2: 14-18; Mark 8: 27-35

Do you argue?
Do you know someone who does?
Does anyone ever win?

We have in the Gospel today Peter’s act of faith in Jesus, “You are the Christ.”
But this wonderful first-time acknowledgement is framed on either side by urging us to be humble and accepting of whatever comes: “I offered my back to those who struck me” in Isaiah, and “take up (your) cross and follow me” in Mark.  The psalm response, too, “I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living” puts us in mind of that line from the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the meek; they will inherit the land.”  Meekness is today’s big message!

What has all this to do with arguing?

A lady I know well said that living with someone who argued made her realise that it took two to argue and always there was no resolution, but dissension and strained relations as a result.  She decided she would refrain from arguing.  It took a bit of practice but she began to enjoy it and really felt she was inheriting the land.  Let not anyone say that meekness is weakness! There was a new freedom and the comforting realisation that when Jesus said (elsewhere) “My yolk is easy and my burden light,” he really meant it.

But what has all this to do with Jesus being the Christ?

After Peter’s act of faith, Jesus goes on to tell the disciples just what lay ahead of him. Being important was not going to save him from suffering and apparent failure.  And if we are to follow in his steps we must learn the same lesson.  Self-vindication and self-righteousness are not to be our practice. And like my lady-friend, if we can let go of our pride, perhaps we too can enjoy “the land of the living “ (Ps.114). 

So we might like to try the meekness of refusing to argue and so become peace-makers and bearers of blessing. 

Helen Ryan OP
13th Sept 2009