During September we are back to the Gospel of Mark after our excursion through John Chapter 6.
Jesus is on the move this month from Tyre, to Decapolis, to Caesarea Philippi, back to Galilee, and Capernaum. (He is in a transition as we are typically in September). While there are dealings with the public in the form of healings, most of the month concerns conversations with the disciples in the form of teachings. Some are heated. While they now see him as the Messiah his fate questioned by them.
September 1- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
The Gospel according to Mark and The Epistle of James are paired for the next several weeks in the lectionary, providing help in how to live as faithful followers of Jesus. The selection from the sayings on defilement (7:1-23) that constitutes today’s gospel raises the question of the relationship between “the commandment of God” and “the tradition of the elders” and of the real meaning of cleanness and defilement, issues of vital interest to the early Church. All three sections concern ritual purity: the first centering on washing (7:1-8), the second and third on food (7:14-15, 21-23).
Mark 7 begins with Jesus being challenged by the Pharisees and scribes for how his disciples have behaved. They have not all washed their hands. In those days, the washing of hands was for a purification ritual, not for hygiene. The washing of hands was to purify oneself against what was unclean, specifically in this case, food that might have been handled by Gentiles. The leaders were more concerned with people following the literal letter of the law, the traditions that they held, rather than the spirit of the law, which was to honor God in all that they did and said. Their tradition justified the keeping out of the Gentiles as well as the poor and those they would call “sinners”—people who could not afford the rituals of purification in the temple. Jesus tore down the walls that would divide the “pure” from the unclean, the sinners, the Gentiles, the Others—and declared that what comes out of the mouth—what we say that hurts and harms, that divides and separates—this is what is really sinful, unclean, and against God’s ways.
September 8 – Mark 7:24-37
Two healings in the region of Tyre and then Decapolis recognize the growing fame of Jesus. People are hearing about him and bringing those who have impediments to be healed:
- Healing the daughter of a Syrophoenician woman
- Healing of the deaf man
“He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” The more Jesus requests not to publicize these events, even those done in private, the more people tell others.
September 15 – Mark 8:27-38
The famous story from Caesarea Philippi “Who do people say that I am?” At the point of today’s reading in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus begins his journey to the cross and resurrection. It is clear that the disciples finally understand that Jesus is the messiah, but they still see this role as one of royal earthly glory. When Jesus corrects this image and explains that the Son of Man must suffer rejection and death, Peter takes Jesus aside. Peter can’t believe such things could happen to someone destined to greatness and argues with Jesus. Jesus knows these things must happen and tells Peter to get behind him and follow.
September 22 – Mark 9:30-37
Jesus is back in Galilee and Capernaum in a frank conversation with the disciples
Jesus tries to help the disciples understand what was in store for him forecasting his execution, but they couldn’t see it. As a matter of fact, so great was their misunderstanding that they argued among themselves about who would be first in this kingdom of Jesus.
Finally there is Jesus’ response, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”
September 29 – Mark 9:38-50
“Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Jesus taught his disciples two different things in today’s gospel. First, when John came to him saying that someone, not one of them, was exorcizing demons in Jesus’ name, Jesus explained that anyone who was not against them was with them. The second teaching involved the way a person should respond to temptation. Rather than commit sinful acts using our hands, eyes, feet, or ears, it would be better to enter heaven without those body parts than to use them sinfully and live in eternal damnation.