Commentary on the Gospel for September 15, 2024

Dear friends, peace and blessings.

We’ve reached the halfway point in the Gospel of Mark, kind of like we’re on a journey with the Apostles, learning right alongside them as they listen to Jesus’ teachings. And what He tells them, He’s also telling us. So let’s see what He has to say to each of us today.

Faith in Tough Times

Isaiah reminds us how important it is to lean on God, especially when things get tough. Just like Jesus found strength in His Father during His suffering, we need to turn to our faith when we feel tired or overwhelmed.

Faith, as James tells us, needs to show up in what we do. Serving others, following Jesus’ example, is a real way to live out our faith. Don’t get discouraged if things don’t go as planned; remember, we do what we do out of love, not expecting anything in return.

The Big Question: Who is Jesus to Me?

Jesus, always on the move, invites us to think about our own personal relationship with Him. It’s not enough to just repeat what others say; we need to figure out who Jesus is to us, deep down in our hearts.

To answer this question, we can ask ourselves a few honest questions:

• Does Christ have a big role in my everyday life?
• Do I feel close to Him, like a friend or family member?
• Do I take time to talk to Him throughout the day?
• Do I seek His guidance before making important decisions?

Finding Our Own Answer

The Gospels are full of questions about who Jesus is. But the most important one is the one He asks us directly: “Who am I to you?”

He’s the Messiah, but each of us needs to find our own personal answer. Is Jesus someone we can’t live without? Someone we’d give our life for?

Let’s think about these questions and find our own honest answers. That’s the answer Christ is waiting to hear from us.