It is 13th September 2015. It is 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings from Is. 50:5-9a, James 2:14-18 and the Gospel from Mk.8:27-35. The first reading presents the suffering Servant of Yahweh. There are four songs of the Suffering Servant. What we read today is the third one. It is referred to Jesus who was obedience to the will of the Father till the end. Jesus is the suffering Messiah. “The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced.” (Is. 50:7). The responsorial Psalm prays, “I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.” (Ps.116:9). The second reading strongly points out that our faith must have its outcome. Our good works are the outcome or the result of our faith in Jesus. Faith cannot exist without good works. No good works are possible without faith. They co-exist in a believer. “So, faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” (James 2:17). It is our duty to bring out the good works because we believe. In the Gospel, Jesus clarifies his conviction on suffering. Anyone who opposes to suffer typifies Satan even though they have great faith in Christ Jesus. Willingness to suffer for our faith and to suffer for the welfare of the others is the expression of our faith. Everyone who wishes to follow Jesus must deny oneself which means to deal with their ego and selfish desires; carrying the cross means to suffer for ourselves and others; and to follow Jesus means to live according the Gospel of Jesus. “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel will save it.” (Mk.8:35). May you have a good day.