The Power of the Kingdom: Mark 9

When we think about Lent, penance comes to mind. Lent – with all its difficulties – propels us forward with its To-Do Lists. We don’t eat meat on Friday. We fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (at the very least). We take up a penitential practice of some sort and even add devotions to our routine. Lent is a powerful time for turning away from sin and returning to Christ by renewing our baptismal promises on Easter Sunday. Then the season of Easter begins, and it continues and keeps going for fifty days. What in the world are we supposed to do during Easter? 

Easter challenges us to keep the joy of the Risen Lord before our eyes. This might not sound like much of a penance, but think about it this way: have you ever tried to be joyful for others even when you weren’t? We all have, at times, kept a stiff upper lip and “held it together” so as not to worry others. It was a real sacrifice. Joy can be similar. Can we keep our focus on the truth – not the Catholic opinion, but the TRUTH – that Jesus is risen from the dead, he reigns, he is currently, presently, now at work in our lives. His Resurrection means that the promises of the Old Testament are fulfilled, and that God never abandons us, no matter how dire the circumstances. It might not make sense to praise God in our difficulties, but when we praise Him with faith in what He is doing and will do, we are anchoring our lives in the power of the Resurrection. This is the “penance” of Easter, rejoice.  

When we rejoice in the Lord with praise and thanksgiving, we don’t pretend like everything is okay when it’s not. Praising Jesus during Easter is not about tricking ourselves into thinking hurts no longer hurt. What this penance of joy does is make sure that the truth of our faith gains deeper inroads into our thoughts and actions, so that we can cooperate more freely what God is doing rather than whatever of evil is taking place. When problems dictate our day, we can become anxious and lose sight of God’s presence with us. When we praise Jesus and claim the truth that he is Lord of this current difficulty and is working it out for good, then we’ve started to see the problem in the wider horizon of the Resurrection. In this way, Easter begins to draw us forward rather than annoyances and problems. Instead of being pulled in many directions, begin to be drawn by the voice of the Risen Lord who IS with us. It might be difficult to take up the mantle of joy, but it will create a place of deeper peace and hope-filled joy that the world cannot give.  

 
A Note about Mark chapter 9 and subsequent chapters: A lot will begin to unfold throughout the rest of the Gospel in each chapter. The reflection questions and the food for thought aren’t exhaustive by any means. I will touch on a few points that stand out for me. If you’re meeting with another person or with a group, feel free to dive into other areas of consideration. Let the word of God nourish your faith and have a fun and prayerful time.  
 

Reflection Questions: 

1.) Mark 9:1 offers a prophetic prediction about the coming Kingdom of God. In that prediction we get a window into a particular characteristic of God’s Kingdom: “power.” In what ways have we witnessed Jesus’ power in what we’ve read of the Gospel so far? Where do we see the similar power of the Kingdom of God in the lives of some of the saints? What’s the difference between the power of the Kingdom of God and the worldly power? 
2.) We’ll look into the Transfiguration in the “Food for Thought” section below. 
 3.) Jesus’ disciples attempt to cast out a demon unsuccessfully (vv. 14-18). What is Jesus’ response to their “powerlessness” before this particular experience of evil (it’s not really a pleasant response...)? How do the disciples react to Jesus’ power to cast out the demon (see verse 28)? Why might Jesus posit prayer and fasting as necessary for a disciple to cast out a demon?  What do fasting and prayer have to do with the spiritual life and discipleship? 
4.) So...Jesus is merciful. There can be no doubt that by his Cross and Resurrection he revealed the deepest Heart of God the Father and His love for us. At the same time, Jesus takes sin seriously, because he loves us. Spend time reading verses 42-50. How do these words of Jesus challenge us to take sin seriously? 

“Food for Thought” 

Within the story of the Transfiguration we have history and mystery revealed. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain and is transfigured before his friends. This is reminiscent of many Old Testament accounts of God revealing himself on a mountain to the likes of Moses and Elijah. Lo and behold, Moses and Elijah show up. This moment awed and terrified Peter, James, and John. Although a lot could be said about this (or any other passage) story, let’s think through this aspect: Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah. 

A lot of people who disagree with the Catholic Church will make the claim that our prayer to saints makes us necromancers (that is, those who communicate with the dead in order to get occult/secret information). Necromancy (from the words “nekros” that means “dead” and “manteia” that means “divination”) is forbidden in the Old Testament (and the New). All disciples of Jesus need to avoid palm readers, fortune tellers, tarot cards, astrology, reiki, seances, and so on, and so forth. There are legitimate and illegitimate ways to communicate with God per God’s wishes as divinely revealed. And, we know that demons do exist, and they can sometimes help a wizard or witch or palm reader to speak something true in order to sow doubt about God’s words, commands, etc. Often times, people will say that these practices are just “fun” or that they’re playing around or that they’ve had good experiences. None of that makes such practices less sinful nor less dangerous. When it comes to the Catholic Church’s veneration of the saints, we do not conjure up the dead in order to control the departed and get secret information. Our veneration of the saints isn’t about control, but a family of faith that includes heaven and earth.  

Jesus spoke with two deceased people on Mount Tabor: Moses and Elijah. Would someone who thinks the Church commits “necromancy” by asking a saint for help therefore accuse Jesus of the like on Mount Tabor? I hope not! Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets for the New Testament. These two departed people had a conversation with Jesus. Did Jesus, in having that conversation with Moses and Elijah, show disrespect or dishonor to God the Father? Does Jesus' interaction with Moses and Elijah mean that he summoned them to show off his might and manipulate the disciples? Was Jesus seeking knowledge from Moses and Elijah? Obviously, no, no, and no. And, yet, Jesus spoke to two of his friends who had died long before his Nativity. In speaking with them, Jesus spoke with family. Such honor to one another actually glorifies the Father who joins us together in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Catholics do not sin nor do they go against the Scriptures when they speak to saints in heaven...they actually are following the example of Jesus Christ. How about that... 

Catholics do not “worship” the saints when we have statues in our churches. We do not believe that the statues are the saints (akin to idolatry) and we do not sacrifice cattle before the statues to manipulate the saints to act on our behalf – that would be paganism. We keep statues, stain glass windows, and feast days of the saints to glorify God who reveals His goodness in the lives of our forefathers and mothers in the faith. We learn by their example, because the lives of the saints were inspired by the word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. This does not steal God’s glory, its exactly the system of honor that God reveals throughout the works of Paul’s letters. When Paul honors various helpers and disciples, he does not steal God’s glory but reveals the presence and power of God’s glory at work in and through other family members in the faith. 

We talk to the saints as friends because they love us with God’s love. When we think about the life of Jesus, angelic helpers minister to Jesus throughout his ministry. Angels announce the coming of John the Baptist and Jesus. An angel communicates God’s word to Mary. Angels communicate to Joseph in a dream to direct his care for the Holy Family. Angels minister to Jesus in the desert temptation and in the Garden before his trial. God did not need to send the angels to help Jesus. The angels are completely “unnecessary” and that is the truth. But God the Father sent the angels anyway, because God the Father is not a misery economist begrudgingly gifting graces to His children. And, once Jesus opens heaven to disciples following his Cross and Resurrection, why wouldn’t holy angels and saints in heaven all help out as God wills? God the Father is generous and desires to raise up a family of angelic and human beings who cooperate with one another, and, by that loving cooperation, reveal His glory. This communion of heaven and earth reveals, ultimately, the communion Who Is the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, One God).  

People make a lot of claims about the Catholic Church not being Scriptural. When it comes to our relationship with the angels and the saints, it seems like the Catholic Church is not only Scriptural, but She is imitating the life of Jesus in an excellent way.