Today is the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity. The Gospel reading from Mark chapter 8 presents Peter’s confession of faith at Caesarea Philippi when he identified Jesus as the Messiah. Peter’s confession of faith is a significant turning point in Mark’s Gospel. Up to this point, the emphasis has been on the hidden and secret nature of Jesus’ Messiahship. Up to this point, only the spirit world has recognised Jesus for who he really is. Now the secret is out. Peter had been following the clues and putting the pieces together. However, no sooner does Jesus accept the title Messiah than he also qualifies it. He is not the warrior Messiah, whom some were expecting, but a fully human Messiah who is destined to suffer.
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of following clues. In today’s picture from their book, Signs and Symbols, Aled and Sian are following the clues to discover the ancient castle.
Lord Jesus Christ,
you made yourself known to Peter,
and Peter recognised you as the Messiah.
Make yourself known to us,
when we break bread in your name;
that we may proclaim you,
our Lord and Saviour.
Amen.
Next Sunday’s Gospel reading explores Jesus’ teaching on what it means to follow in his footsteps. Those who follow this kind of Messiah have to reshape their ambition. The image to help us prepare for next Sunday’s theme is ambition. You can find out more about that theme by looking at the Educational Resources and the Preparation Resources.
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