Understanding

Jesus’ Passion and Death
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
7th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Sir 2:1-11
Gospel: Mk 9:30–37
Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; but Jesus did not want people to know where he was because he was teaching his disciples. And he told them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into human hands. They will kill him, but three days after he has been killed, he will rise.” The disciples, however, did not understand these words and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, Jesus asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they did not answer because they had been arguing about who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve and said to them, “If someone wants to be first, let him be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child, placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, “Whoever welcomes a child such as this in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me but the One who sent me.”

D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Today’s Gospel is still part of the series of readings that tell us about Jesus’ teachings while making the long walk to Jerusalem with his apostles. In Jerusalem he would be handed over and be put to death. We started this series of readings last February 15 with the story of the blind man. What a symbolic introductory reading! As Jesus gradually opened the eyes of the blind man (Mark 8:22-26), so Jesus would slowly make the apostles understand why he needed to suffer and die to save humanity.
Jesus patiently taught them the mystery that was about to unfold because he himself knew that the mystery of his Passion and Death was a hard nut to crack. He himself had negotiated with his Father to “take away this cup of suffering” from him, although he indicated his willingness to obey by appending the words “not my will but yours be done”.

In today’s Gospel Jesus disclosed to the apostles that he would be handed over and be killed. But the disciples did not understand. Sadly, their lack of understanding was not only on account of the complexity of the mystery but also on account of their self-centeredness. In fact, Jesus was already telling them without mincing words that he would be made to suffer and die. Yet they continued preoccupying themselves with who among them was the greatest. They were so indifferent to the fate of Jesus.
Lest like the apostles we stand indifferent to the concerns of Jesus let us examine our values. It is hard to understand the standards of heaven when our hearts beat for the standards of earth. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM.
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