εὐαγγελίζω (euaggelizo)
“to announce the Good News of victory in battle”
“to announce the Good News of victory in battle”
“... He was teaching (διδάσκω, didasko) his disciples and
telling (ἔλεγεν, elegen) them...
telling (ἔλεγεν, elegen) them...
Mark 9:31
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
θεωρέω (theoreo)
(“to perceive, discover, ponder a deeper meaning”)
(“to perceive, discover, ponder a deeper meaning”)
In the chronology of the Evangelist Mark, much has happened between last week’s lesson on Jesus’ identity and this week’s announcement once again of what awaits Jesus in Jerusalem. Preceding today’s proclamation, Jesus took Peter, James and John atop “a high mountain” and was transfigured before them. Jesus gave those three disciples a glimpse, a peek into His glorified identity – an identity that would not be revealed until the Cross. Following this event, which had the three questioning, “what rising from the dead meant,” a man brought his “son possessed by a mute spirit.” The father explained that the disciples could not cure him and Jesus reminded all of the need once again to have faith, that radical and complete trust in the Person, Jesus. In a dramatic characteristic of the Evangelist Mark, the episode - filled with violence at one point, ends with Jesus peacefully returning him to his father. Jesus’ disciples then question why they could not cure the son and Jesus once again counsels them on the necessity of prayer.All of this forms a backdrop for today’s proclamation that once again reminds the disciples of the events that await Jesus in Jerusalem.
The episode opens with Jesus “teaching his disciples and telling them.” Teaching and telling: is there a difference between these two actions? While we generally think of teaching involving some type of oral communication, διδάσκω (didasko) is “teaching that demonstrates, shows or reveals.” The activity of διδάσκω involves much more than speaking bits of information to others. Opening the depth of an aspect of Jesus’ teaching and showing how the teaching works in the person’s life is the work of διδάσκω (didasko). Within the context of Christian theology and the living of that theology, διδάσκω (didasko) presumes or builds on an initial knowledge (catechesis more precisely) that has sparked a relationship with the Person Jesus.
In the episode proclaimed this Sunday, Jesus intends to lead The Twelve to a deeper grasp of the journey’s destination: Jerusalem and the life-giving event of His sacrifical, redemption death and glorious Resurrection. The Twelve, however, are not ready for this deeper challenge since they are locked in an earthly worldview of honor, title and privilege among themselves. As a great and patient Teacher, Jesus’ scraps the lesson plan temporarily to address ‘where’ The Twevle are in their journey with Jesus. Make no mistake, though, Jesus will return to the lesson as the Cross looms on the horizon.
In the episode proclaimed this Sunday, Jesus intends to lead The Twelve to a deeper grasp of the journey’s destination: Jerusalem and the life-giving event of His sacrifical, redemption death and glorious Resurrection. The Twelve, however, are not ready for this deeper challenge since they are locked in an earthly worldview of honor, title and privilege among themselves. As a great and patient Teacher, Jesus’ scraps the lesson plan temporarily to address ‘where’ The Twevle are in their journey with Jesus. Make no mistake, though, Jesus will return to the lesson as the Cross looms on the horizon.
