Twenty Second Sunday of the Year September 03, 2023
Jeremiah 20:7-9
Romans 12:1-2 Matthew 16:21-27
In today’s gospel we witness a crucial moment in Jesus' ministry.
He has just revealed to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer
greatly, be crucified, and rise on the third day. Peter, filled with love and
concern for his Master, takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him, saying, "God
forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." Peter's intentions
are noble; he doesn't want Jesus to suffer and die. However, Jesus' response is
both instructive and challenging. He says to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!
You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human
beings do."
Why does Jesus respond so strongly to Peter's words? It's
because Peter is misunderstanding the mission of the Messiah. He is thinking in
human terms, focusing on comfort and the avoidance of suffering. But Jesus is
reminding Peter—and all of us—that the way of the Messiah is one of
self-emptying, suffering, and sacrifice. Jesus came not to avoid the cross but
to embrace it for the salvation of all humanity.
Popular Jewish belief at the time of Jesus expected a
Messiah who would bring instant glory to Israel in terms of military success,
wealth and prosperity. The disciples shared this popular belief. So when Peter
heard Jesus announce that he must first endure the cross, he figured that Jesus
must have made a mistake. “So he took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
saying, 'God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you” (verse 22). Peter
was asking Jesus to abandon the narrow and hard way of the Messiah (“no cross,
no crown”) for the broad and easy way of the World (“all crown and no cross).
And, although Jesus had called him Rock a few moments back, Jesus now looks
Peter in the face and says to him, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling
block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human
things” (verse 23).
So, what does this Gospel passage teach us today?
First, it challenges us to examine our own understanding of
discipleship. Are we following Jesus with the expectation of comfort and
worldly success, or are we willing to embrace the cross that comes with true
discipleship? Discipleship is not about avoiding suffering but about taking up
our crosses and following Jesus, even when it's difficult.
Second, it reminds us that our human perspective often
differs from God's perspective. We may not always understand why we must endure
suffering or challenges in life, but we must trust in God's plan. Just as Jesus
trusted in the Father's will, we too must have faith that God is working in and
through our trials.
Finally, this Gospel calls us to a deeper humility. Peter's rebuke of Jesus comes from a place of pride and misunderstanding. We must humbly acknowledge that our limited human wisdom may not always align with God's divine plan. Like Peter, we need to "get behind Jesus" and allow Him to lead us, trusting that His way is the way of salvation.
Let us take this opportunity to reflect on our own
discipleship. Are we willing to embrace the cross, trusting in God's plan even
when it seems difficult or challenging? Are we ready to set aside our own
limited understanding and follow Jesus with humility and trust? As we continue
our journey of faith, may we strive to think as God does and follow Jesus with
unwavering faith and love.
As we are in the nine days of prayer and reflection on the feast
of the nativity of our mother, let us hear her saying to us in our life
situation, “Keep on going,..(your name).
May she grant us the grace to be true disciples of her Son,
Jesus Christ.
Happy Sunday
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