Gospel: Mark 9:30-37

 

Today’s Gospel narrates the second announcement of the Passion, death and Resurrection. Like the first announcement, the disciples were terrified and afraid. They do not understand the words about the cross: they are not capable of understanding or accepting a Messiah who becomes the servant of the brothers. 

 

They continue to dream of a glorious Messiah, and besides that, they show a great incoherence. When Jesus announces His Passion and Death, they discuss who among them will be the greatest. Jesus wants to serve, yet they only think of commanding! Ambition leads them to promote themselves at the cost of Jesus. 

 

Jesus goes across Galilee, but He does not want people to know it. He is busy with the formation of the disciples and He speaks with them about the Cross. He says that according to the prophecy of Isaiah, the Son of Man has to be handed over and condemned to death. This indicates the orientation of Jesus toward the Bible. He drew His teaching from the prophecies. 

 

When they got home, Jesus asked: “What were you arguing about on the road?” They did not answer. It is the silence of the one who feels guilty. Jesus is a good pedagogue. He does not intervene immediately. He knows how to wait for the opportune moment to fight against the influence of the ideology in those whom He is forming. The response of Jesus is a summary of the witness of life which He Himself was giving from the beginning: power must be used not to ascend and dominate, but to descend and serve.