People's Prayers: Prayers of the People: They and Them are Not Invited ~ 17th Sunday after Pentecost '18 Yr B

For Sunday, September 16, 2018, 17^th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B, Readings: Proverbs 1:20-33, Psalm 19, James 3:1-12, Mark 8:27-38

How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?...I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.

[Proverbs 1:22b, 23b]

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. [Psalm 19:14]

For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle...From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. [James 3:2, 10]

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" [Mark 8:27-29a]

The Proverbial Prophet of the ancient time is speaking loudly to our own time in this week's selection, as we are warned against scoffers and fools, waywardness, and complacency. The Psalmist is more optimistic in praise to and of God's gifts as a Master Plan for our salvation. And James gets quite graphic in his descriptions of the restless evil, full of deadly poison within us, a true tongue lashing! Forget being two-faced, James is blunt saying that out of our mouths come both blessing and cursing. [Sadly I admit I am guilty as charged]

As Mark recounts a trip to Caesarea Philippi with the disciples, Jesus asks them what they have heard others say about him. Always an easier question to answer especially in a group: Who do THEY say...? "They and them" are the best at giving opinions, making comments, uninformed decisions, or judgments ~ hey, it's not me, it was "them" ~ they said, they did, they believe... But then comes the real question:

"Who do you say that I am?" Money on the table time and Peter was right on it! "You are the Messiah." Easy peasy until the conversation went downhill.

Of course no one wanted to hear what was coming next: suffering, rejection, and death ~ did they hear the part about rising in three days? Peter ~ Dear Peter ~ started to argue and was shut down by Jesus in the familiar words: Get behind me, Satan! But in his defense I have tried to calm some fears of others on occasion, trying the lessen the impact that the approaching reality might not be all that bad. But this reality was not going to be pleasant or easy and Jesus told the disciples and all the crowd around about saving or losing one's life, then and now. Peter, the disciples, and we are told to get out of the mindset of human things and focus on divine things. We must take up our cross and concern ourselves unashamedly with the Gospel. Yes there may be difficulties, rejection, and perhaps suffering because of it. But here in this day, I take solace and strength and am heartened by the words of Catholic social activist Dorothy Day* who said, If I have achieved anything in my life, it is because I have not been embarrassed to talk about God.

The question hangs heavy in the air: Who do I say Jesus is? Do I express my answer well enough merely by good deeds, attending Church, wearing a cross? Am I embarrassed to speak openly of my faith in the face of scoffers? Is trying to keep my all-too-restless tongue tamed one way to take up my cross? No easy outs, just truth between me and Jesus in real time. This is a conversation to which They and Them are not invited, but in which I will never be alone.

*click the blue link above for more information about the extraordinary life of Dorothy Day [1897-1980]

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O God of Glory, may the meditations of our hearts listen for Your thoughts and live into the Words you make known to us. Revive our souls with the courage to name Jesus as our Messiah and to take up the cross to follow Him, for the sake of the Gospel and life everlasting.

Lord Jesus, Son of Man

RESPONSE: Our Strength and our Redeemer

~ O God of Glory, amplify the strength of our voices to implore all political leaders in our World, in our Nation and in our Community, to grant immediate and compassionate aid to all current and future victims of tyranny, violence, and desperate life circumstance. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Lord Jesus, Son of Man