24th Sunday in Ordinary time
Readings:
Isaiah 50:5-9
James 2:14-18
Mark 8:27-35
Reflection:
Encountering the ‘trauma’ from the ‘Olympic Opening Ceremony,’ one might say that the world cannot persecute any people but the Christians. Is it because the Christians are used to the persecution as a destiny?
The poem ‘The Servant of the Lord’ from Isaiah shows the willingness of the one who faces suffering or trauma. The servant does not turn away but accepts everything. In trauma theory, accepting, which leads to understanding, is a starting point for the healing process. When one is willing to accept, the process can start to go straight ahead. It is even more helpful when he/she (they) trusts in God’s hands.
In the Gospel, Jesus does not just share but teaches about the suffering of the Son of Man. This son will be rejected, even put to death, but the hope is that he will rise after three days. Jesus does not need to wait too long for the rejection or, more correctly, prevention to occur. Peter, who wants to prevent Jesus’ suffering, is the one who has professed in the previous scene that Jesus is Christ. No one can escape from a traumatic event, but one can choose to accept it willingly or turn away from it.
James seems to be more practical in inviting us to faith and practise through our deeds. He strongly emphasises that faith is quite dead without good works. This is always an invitation for all of us who are facing trauma in our lives. By practising our words, we are invited to do good works by willingly accepting ‘trauma.’ It does not mean we do not have another option, but we ‘get used to it’ with God’s Love, not hatred.
JD Tân T CP is a Vietnamese Passionist who lives and studies further at the Holy Cross Retreat, Templestowe.