“U – TURN SLOT”

Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 50: 5-9/ Ps 116/ Jas 2: 14-18/ Mk 8: 27-35

One of the ways to solve the terrible traffic situation in the metropolis is to designate "U-Turn" slots along the highway. When one passes through this slot, one moves towards a new direction.

Our Gospel narrative today taken from Luke is a “U-Turn” in the ministry of Jesus. If we trace Jesus’ ministry in Israel according to the Gospel of Mark, we realize that prior to this Caesarea Philippi event, Jesus was doing his Galilean ministry which was marked by a lot of signs and wonders. People were amazed by what they have seen except in the Nazareth where he was rejected. Our Gospel today takes place farther north from Galilee at the foot of Mount Hermon. From here, Jesus makes a “U-Turn” a journey towards Jerusalem where he will suffer and die.

When Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?...But who do you say that I am?,” he was not simply asking from then an information about himself. Rather, Jesus was checking on how deep is his relationship with them. Now, that he will be making a “U-Turn” not just geographically but also in his ministry and mission where things will be more difficult, it is but fitting for Jesus to also prepare his disciples for such turn.

In life, we also have our own “U-Turn” slots. These are the events which are decisive and life-changing. Thus, in our Gospel today, we are invited that in moments of making a life “U-Turn,” we should never forget to consider our relationship with Jesus. If we are about to choose our career, establish our future, or build our family, let us never forget to consider Jesus. Is such “U-Turn” bringing us to a deeper and closer relationship with Him?

Since our relationship with Jesus is fundamental in our lives, our second reading today from the Letter of James has given us two important elements which we must consider in our journey with Jesus. “Faith without works is dead.” Bishop Barron commenting on the reading finds no contradiction between faith and work. For him, “faith is the door and work i.e. love is living inside the house.” Faith is our door towards our relationship with Jesus. While love is the law in such relationship. Thus, let us try to revisit our faith. Has our faith informed, formed, and transformed us? Let us try to revisit our love. Has our loving become our way of living?

When one makes a “U-Turn,” one moves towards a new direction. In Caesarea Philippi, Jesus makes a “U-Turn” not only geographically but also in his ministry. Thus, he moves towards a new direction, towards Jerusalem where he will suffer and die. Yet such movement did not stop at Calvary. His “U-Turn” at Caesarea Philippi led him back to heaven after his resurrection. In our lives, may all our “U-Turns” lead us back to where we truly belong – heaven. Amen!

Photo taken from http://www.thisischurch.com/images/caesarea.gif