Faith Education and RE News

 You are the Christ … the Son of Man was destined to suffer much.

 Mark 8:27-35

In this week’s Scripture, Jesus poses a question to his disciples: “Who do you say I am?” The disciples respond, saying, “John the Baptist,” while others suggest, “Elijah or one of the prophets.” However, Peter speaks up and declares, “You are the Christ.” Jesus then instructs them not to tell anyone about him.

We have all become very familiar with who Jesus is—sometimes to the point that it seems assumed any messiah would be a figure who promotes love and kindness. But this was not always the case. In fact, for the Jewish people, Jesus was the furthest thing from what they expected in a messiah. Previous prophets had proclaimed messages or delivered the chosen people. Think of Moses or Noah: God worked through Moses to free the Jews from Egypt, while Noah built an ark and warned those around him of the coming flood.

Jesus, however, is a giant wild card. He does not fit into any of these molds. Instead, he comes as a sacrificial lamb—ready to die so that the world may be saved. His message is radical: that all people should be treated with dignity, and that all can enter heaven.

More than this, it is the outcasts, rather than those shunned by God, with whom Jesus most closely relates. While the exact makeup of the marginalized might change over the years, we still live in a world filled with significant injustice. Over half of the world’s wealth is in the hands of the top 1%, while two-thirds live in poverty, and a third survive on less than a dollar a day. Despite progress, many continue to be marginalized. The ones who first come to mind are the homeless and racial or gender minorities. But the list extends further—consider those who feel lonely because they cannot speak the language of their community, the elderly who have lost their friendships and loved ones, or those isolated due to a disability. Far too many people live in loneliness. It is in the margins that we find God.

This week, we are called to be helpers of Christ—reaching out and making connections with those around us. Reach out to the most marginalized. This might involve helping at a food bank, raising money for a charity, or simply chatting with someone who is alone. As my grandfather used to say, “A smile costs nothing, and you might just make their day!” Wise words indeed!

Jonathan Rooney

Religious Education Leader 

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