House Notes
* The notes/recaps from our meetings are posted on our Catholic Catacombs Light website https://catholiccatacombs.wixsite.com/website/blog.
* Remember that knowing Jesus Christ means being able to better relate to God. Check out The Chosen at https://thechosen.link/1Y1R7.
* If you have questions about anything, you can email Ron at ron@hallagan.net.
Sept 7 – Week 1: Gospel Exegesis for the upcoming Sunday Mass (next week is Labor Day – skip bible study?)
Sept 14 – Week 2: Bible Timeline: Next – Noah & the Ark, Tower of Babel
Sept 21 – Week 3: Topic of Choice week – 1) 2) 3)
Sept 28 – Week 4: Open Mic – choose format
Bible Topics Survey Results 1. Jesus’ Greatest Parables 2. Hell, Purgatory, Heaven 3. Christian Comparisons 4. Great Women in the Bible 5. Why is there suffering in the world 6. Compare World Religions 7. Revelations
Year B (Mark), 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time This coming Sunday: Jesus tells Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!” (Mark 8:27-35) 10 Min Exegesis of the Mass Opening Prayer 7:05-7:10
Lord, you promised that when two or three of us are gathered in your name, you are there, Well, we are here – multiples of 2 or 3, asking your blessings to be poured out upon those for whom we have asked for your healing tonight... – intentions – Lord, bless the world with its many troubles so that your healing presence is felt especially by those who are hurting, frightened, or meeting the end of this life. And may your presence also be felt by those doing the hurting: we pray, Lord, that you heal their minds and hearts. Lord, we also ask for your blessings on all of us here tonight. Bless our lives, bless our work, bless our families, bless our friends, and most of all, bless our relationship with you. Finally, Lord, assist us with our studies tonight – the reading that has you telling Peter to “get behind
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us. Lead us through all our trials and temptations
And deliver us from evil. Amen
Q: We ask for an awful lot of blessings, don’t we? Can we ask for too many?
No, especially if it’s for others.
Story of blessings
The Mass
1) The Sign of the Cross
2) The Lord Be With You. And With Your Spirit.
3) Confiteor – next week
Context of Mark 8:27-35
Today’s reading is not only the climax of the Bread narrative in Mark, but it is the turning point of Jesus’ ministry as begins to disclose for the first time who he is – the promised Davidic Messiah – and what this actually means.
Jesus has now moved from Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee to Caesarea Philippi. Caesarea Philippi was at first a collection of four villages, but then Herod Philip (one of Herod the Great’s sons) rebuilt them into one large Hellenistic city and named it after the Roman emperor (Caesar) and then added his own name.
Back during the days of the Northern Kingdom (which became the lost 10 tribes of Israel), this area had belonged the tribe of Dan, and was the northernmost territory of Israel. Once again, Jesus is reclaiming the lost tribes.
This brings us to today’s reading, where Jesus has gathered his disciples on the outskirts of the city.
Gospel of Mark 8:27-35
Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.
He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.”
This is the first of three predictions Jesus makes in Mark about what is going to happen. In each of these predictions, there seems to be a pattern to what unfolds. Today’s reading follows the pattern: 1) Jesus’ identification and passion prediction, 2) the misunderstanding and correction, and 3) the meaning of discipleship.
Q: Why was Jesus asking the question about who he was?
Up till now, looking back through Mark, Jesus has been an authoritative teacher and miracle worker, he has spoken of himself as the “bridegroom” of God’s people, the Lord of the Sabbath, a physician, and founder of a new Israel. His words and actions prompted awe, amazement, and curiosity. But he was also met with repeated resistance and misunderstanding on the part of family, townspeople, and especially religious authorities. His words and actions themselves seem to be parables that both reveal and conceal the mystery of his identity. No doubt, everyone has been wrestling with this question.
That may be one reason but another must be timing. At some point, Jesus must begin to explain – at least to his disciples – the tough facts about what he will have to do. It is also interesting where Jesus decides to ask this question. He is at the most Northern point of the tribes of Israel and, after this he will see him begin his last journey towards Jerusalem. It must be time! One last interesting point of where they are. Caesarea Philippi is built at the edge of Mount Hermon where there was a famous cave known for where the Greeks worshipped their gods for centuries. Jesus was asking his question at the very center of pagan worship.
Q: Who makes the correct identification?
Peter, who responds, “You are the Messiah,” but Jesus knows Peter does not understand what this means. Knowing this, Jesus doesn’t want the disciples to spread more rumors that are not accurate.
Then Jesus began to teach them. He begins to explain that he will be rejected by the Temple elders in Jerusalem; that he will suffer greatly and be killed; and then rise after three days. In the prediction of His suffering and death, Jesus identifies Himself not as a victorious David but as the Suffering Servant, which form much of book of 2nd Isaiah, but which gets ignored because it’s rather inexplicable.
Q: Where was any of this prophesied?
Hosea, a prophet to the Northern Kingdom and Isaiah to the Southern Kingdom, both in the 8th century BC.
“Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and God has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Is 53: 4-6).
“In their affliction they will rise early: Come, and let us return to the Lord. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence" (Hos 6:1-2).
Q: Why was Peter so upset?
Peter knew the Temple hierarchy has no power over Christ, and so he couldn’t comprehend why Jesus would allow himself to be killed by those in authority over the Temple. Notice Peter didn’t just disagree with what Jesus said, he rebuked him!
Q: Why did Jesus tell Peter, “Get behind me, Satan”?
Let’s look at this.
First, Jesus gives Peter the same rebuke that He gave Satan in Matthew 4:10 – his 3rd temptation by Satan in the desert.
Second, what does the word “Satan” mean? The Hebrew word “Satan” means adversary. Although this can be anytime someone stands as a roadblock - an adversary – to God's plans, that person is indeed acting as Satan in human form. Although Satan has become the official name of the fallen angel, Lucifer, today, it was not quite so then. Nevertheless, Lucifer was considered Lucifer the chief adversary to man, the chief Satan. I am not taking away from what Jesus said; I’m just explaining it wasn’t quite the proper name it is today. In fact, I think Satan is absolutely present in this exchange.
Third, let’s take a look at what Jesus does. He turns the other disciples. In the translation, the words indicate a sudden movement accompanied by a keen searching look at his disciples. Then he addresses Peter in their presence, the severe rebuke, Get thee behind me, Satan: for you are thinking not of the things of God, but of the things of men. This was very much like his encounter with Satan in the desert, when the whole world was offered to him. Now the crown of worldly kingship without the cross was being held out to him again. Could Jesus not be tempted like us humans? This explains his language. Peter was indeed rebuked; but the rebuke was aimed through him at the arch adversary who was addressing him through Peter.
Here is the striking significance of his "turning about." Peter was for the moment doing the tempter's work, and in "turning about" our Lord was again putting Satan behind him.
Q: Then what Jesus do?
He gives them a lesson on what discipleship entails in this world. It is the first mention of the cross in Mark. Jesus uses the image of a cross, a Roman instrument of death in the execution of criminals, as a shocking metaphor for the obedience of discipleship.
Q: What are Jesus' conditions for true discipleship?
Jesus describes authentic discipleship in terms of reversal. Rather than stressing power, glory, and triumphalism, he emphasizes denial of self – particularly self-centeredness, a willingness to suffer for love, the Gospel, and the good of others (=take up one’s cross), and in this way, by giving up this life, we save it – forever.
At this point, the disciples still have no idea what Jesus is talking about.
Closing Prayer
Lord, I pray now to set everything aside…
to empty myself of all worldly matters and put them into your hands,
so that my soul-spirit-being may rest awhile in the stillness of your presence…
where nothing of this world is hidden,
where the truth of me is laid bare,
and where Your healing power can repair, build up, edify, and strengthen me
in accordance with your purposes, and to accomplish your purposes
today, and every day.
Wisdom Prayer
O Divine Wisdom and eternal Word of the Father,
I humbly ask you, by your grace, to purge all harmful and unprofitable words from my mind and lips,
so that my mouth may never open but to the benefit of others,
and to your praise and honor.
Amen.
And Taylor’s closing devotion…
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