Second Sunday in Lent: Gospel, Mark 8:27-38                            

Mark 8:27-38

Lent is a mix, but never a mess. I recently was gratified by an online interview where a fine young scholar from my tradition pointed out some “missteps” we may make during Lent. The major ones concerned the fact that Lent is not only to be seen as penitential (or sorrowful), but should include interruptions regarding the resurrection joy of Jesus along the way. It is a mix. Luther believed and so taught as well as the great “Golden Mouth,” John Chrysostom.

In our gospel text we have both the confident declaration of Peter regarding the identity of the Savior standing before him. But toward the end of the reading we have Jesus teaching that for those who confess that Jesus is the Messiah, the very Son of God, there are sacrifices to be made. Note: the order of confessing and then the sacrifice made. We do not sacrifice that we may become followers of Jesus. We receive His sacrifice for us and it is effective precisely because of who He is.) Then we are called to live mirroring His gifts to us. And that is just the subject of the close of our reading.

Salvation is free indeed. But living it out in this world may be costly indeed. And the crux Jesus warns is to beware of falling into the world’s trap of being ashamed of Him and His words. Funny isn’t it? He couples His identity with what comes from His holy lips. Ponder this week the fact that as Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “When Jesus calls a man, He bids him come and die.” Our confidence is in the One who calls and saves us. The quiet comes as we consider, and consider well the death-life He calls us to live.