Wednesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Our reflection on the first letter of Peter continues. Among the various themes of this letter, today’s reading emphasizes steadfastness to Christ’s life and teachings in an otherwise hostile environment. Scripture scholars tell us that this letter was written around 70-90 AD, perhaps after the death of both Peter and Paul. This means that this letter was probably written by one of the disciples of Peter. There was no known official persecution at this time but the difficulty of living the Christian life in a secular environment that espoused values contrary to scripture is emphasized often. The theme of today’s gospel reading is similar. It is remarkable that while Jesus was talking about his impending death and resurrection, the disciples were engaged in a power struggle. James and John beat the other disciples to staking their claim the to the right and left seat of Jesus in the Kingdom (Mk 10:37). The fact that the other disciples were indignant (Mk 10: 41) shows that they harbored the same ambition. Jesus reply is strikingly similar to Peter’s teaching in today’s first reading. Jesus asks his disciples to distance themselves from their contemporary gentile thought pattern. In fact, he suggests, “It shall not be so among you” (Mk 10:42). They must be different from those around them and thus be a counter cultural witness. Rather, “whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all” (Mk 10: 43-44).
Peter must have taken Jesus’ teaching seriously since in his own reachings he reiterates Jesus’ teaching. He now in turn teaches his community to “love one another intensely from a (pure) heart” (1Pet:1:22). They must do so for two reasons. First because Christ’s sacrificial love for us must not go in vain (1Pet:1:18), and secondly because that is what will set them apart from the rest of Roman society.
The readings pose an important question to us today. How am I set apart from the cultural practices of my day? How are my words, actions and attitudes a counter-cultural witness to Christ? The emphasis here is not on a Christian uncomfortably sticking out of the crowd almost close to being weird, but rather, the emphasis is on being a genuine witness to Christ in the way we deal with one another. Thus, when there is intense gossip in the workplace or at school how can one be a good witness to be Christ’s love in the midst of the negative environment. Or, in a world replete with vengeance how can we witness to Christ’s forgiveness? How can we stress dependence upon God in a self-glorifying culture?
May be the answer can be found in Peter’s words to his community: “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers, and the flower wilts; but the word of the Lord remains forever" (1 Pet 1:24-25).
_- Fr. Satish Joseph