My Dear People of God,  

When we read from the Book of Wisdom and the Gospel of Mark, both indicate that if we want to follow God we will have to suffer just as Jesus mentioned He would  have to suffer. In Wisdom it is stated, the wicked say, “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law.” 

In “Wisdom” the wicked plan to test the just, to see whether or not, like Job, the just would persevere in their conviction. It does not appear, however, that the wicked are open to conversion, so blinded are they. There is a terrible irony in their words. In verse 20: ‘if God truly protects their victim, then they will be punished.”  This is evident when Jesus says “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill Him; and three days after His death, the Son of Man will rise.”  

The book of Wisdom was written by King Solomon, the son of David. Even then, being open to the Wisdom of God, Solomon was able to predict what was going to happen to Jesus. Even though he does not name Jesus, what Solomon predicted was realized when Jesus came, especially concerning the ones in authority and how they were going to treat Jesus.

As we read in Wisdom, “The wicked will test him.” We clearly see how often Jesus was tested. They wanted to pressure Jesus and see how He would answer. They were not interested in their own conversion. They had made up their minds that it was not them but Jesus who was giving them problems. They judged before Jesus came. They had had few challenges. Now that Jesus is in their midst, they are challenged in what they do and what they say.

Here are two clear messages we receive in order to follow the Lord: We have to suffer, and we have to encounter contradiction. This poses a challenge to others whether or not they want to change. 

There is a tendency to resist and not want to change in all of us.  However, if someone gives an example of a life following the Lord to those who do not want to change, it is an affront. They will do what they can to get rid of him.  

This bears true in the lives of the many martyrs throughout the history of the Church. To follow Christ truly means to pick up our crosses daily and follow Him.                                                                                  

People who do not want to change will challenge anyone who affronts them, whether it is by word or actions. As Christ was challenged so we will be challenged.

[Source from Navarre Bible Commentary]

In Jesus Name,

Fr. Vincent Clemente