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Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Mark, Chapter 9:

Jesus does not give up on the Twelve--who might strike us as surprisingly slow to perceive and understand! (8:17, 21) Chapter 9 begins with Jesus’ proclamation that some of those listening will indeed see the Kingdom of God coming in power (vs. 1). Six days later, Peter, James, and John see Jesus transfigured (vs. 2-9). Afterward, a crowd sees Jesus and a father with faith seeks compassion (vs. 20-21). Jesus and the disciples leave, headed toward Capernaum, and during this travel Jesus reveals more of the mystery of the Kingdom and the true meaning of his identity as the “Christ” who brings victory (vs. 30-50, 1:1). The disciples do not fully understand (vs. 32), yet Jesus remains with them, purifying them (vs. 42-50) as they slowly come to see (8:22-26).

The Gospel According to St. Mark, Chapter 9:

1 And he said to them, “Tru­ly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the king­dom of God come with power.”

The Transfiguration

2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was transfigured before them, 3 and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly looking around they no longer saw any one with them but Jesus only.

The Coming of Elijah

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of man should have risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to them­ selves, questioning what the ris­ing from the dead meant. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things; and how is it written of the Son of man, that he should suffer many things and be treat­ed with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

The Healing of a Boy with a Mute Spirit

14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd about them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” 17 And one of the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a mute spirit; 18 and wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Je­sus asked his father, “How long has he had this?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.” 23 And Je­sus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the fa­ther of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbe­lief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.”

Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection

30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; 31 for he was teaching his dis­ciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, af­ter three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the say­ing, and they were afraid to ask him.

True Greatness

33 And they came to Caperna­um; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the Twelve and he said to them, “If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Another Exorcist

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not follow­ing us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of wa­ter to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward.

Temptations to Sin

42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be bet­ter for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to en­ter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For every one will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

*Daily Lectio Divina Question:

"Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them." (v8) As you let the Spirit guide you through this chapter, sense the presence of Jesus, "alone with you"...what is He stirring up in your heart and revealing to you through one of these various scenes.

Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan, an adult faith formation apostolate. cbsmich.org/join

Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
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