Saturday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

In today’s readings there appears a rather sharp contrast between the generations who were faithful to God – Abel, Enoch, Noah – and Jesus’ three closest apostles – Peter, James, and John.

In today’s first reading, Abel, Enoch, and Noah are exemplars of faith. Each in a different way is gifted with overcoming death by faith. Abel’s more perfect sacrifice speaks in contrast to Cain’s even after Cain slaughters his brother. Enoch was so faithful that God took him up to dwell with Him, by-passing death (cf. Gen 5:24). Noah had such profound faith in God that he built the ark, saving his household (and ultimately creation) from death by the great flood. We would expect Peter, James, and John to measure up to these revered figures of the Jewish tradition. They have the privilege of seeing Jesus in his glory – in a way that no one else saw Him before His resurrection, yet they do not demonstrate the response of faith. Instead, they question what rising from the dead means after Jesus tells them He will rise (Mk 9:9-10). Indeed in the following passage, Jesus laments the lack of faith of all of the disciples (see Mk 9:14-29).

At this point, Peter, James, and John haven’t understood the magnitude of Jesus’ presence among them. Perhaps they are warranted in their confusion because of the various ways their ancestors – Abel, Enoch, and Noah – all overcame death. Perhaps they wonder which one of them Jesus will be like. In fact, Jesus will be like none of them – He conquers death by dying.

They have been gifted with a glorious revelation in Jesus, but cannot as yet respond in faith. They cannot as yet come to see as God sees – imagining possibilities outside of their comfort zone.

Nevertheless, these apostles are the beginning of the Church; Jesus calls Peter the rock upon whom He will build His Church. With the gift of the Holy Spirit to Apostles at Pentecost, these same apostles are able to imitate Jesus in remarkable ways. They finally respond to the gift.

Let us spend some time in reflection today about the gifts that God has given us – ways in which God makes Himself known to us – are there ways in which we could respond more faithfully?

- Tim Gabrielli