Twenty Second Sunday of the Year (Year A)

Twenty Second Sunday of the Year September 03, 2023

Jeremiah 20:7-9   Romans 12:1-2   Matthew 16:21-27

(image courtesy: Google)

A nun was explaining the Stations of the Cross to her class. They got to the fourth Station were Jesus on the road to Calvary meets his mother. The nun explained that even though they could not talk to each other, mother and son spoke just using their eyes. “What do you think they said to each other?” she asked the pupils. The class gave many different answers. One kid suggested that she said, “This is unfair.” Another kid suggested that she said, “Why me?” Finally, a sickly little girl raised her thin hand, got up and said: “Sister, I know what the Blessed Mother told Jesus. She said to him, ‘Keep on going, Jesus!’” Why would a mother encourage her only son on the way to crucifixion to keep on going? Because the mother understands the Christian principle of “no cross, no crown.”

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