Gospel: Matthew 16:21-27
From that day, Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem; that he would suffer many things from the Jewish authorities, the chief priests and the teachers of the law; and that he would be killed and be raised on the third day. Then Peter took him aside and began to reproach him, “Never, Lord! No, this must never happen to you!” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path. You are thinking not as God does, but as people do.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If you want to follow
me, deny yourself. Take up your cross and follow me. For whoever chooses to save his life will lose it, but the one who loses his life, for my sake, will find it. What will one gain by winning the whole
world, if he destroys his soul? Or what can a person give, in exchange for his life? Know, that the Son of Man will come, in the glory of his Father with the holy angels, and he will reward each one according to his deeds.
Read: The prophet Jeremiah expresses his lament to God as he suffers for being His messenger. In the second reading, St. Paul explains that a Christian's foremost duty is to offer oneself to God. A Christian can exercise good judgment in God rather than being confined by specific legal principles. In the Gospel, Jesus instructs His disciples that anyone who wishes to follow Him must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him.
Reflect: At the time of Jesus, the popular Jewish expectation was that of a royal and political Messiah who would bring instant glory to Israel regarding military success, wealth, and prosperity.
Christ’s disciples shared this belief so that we can understand Peter’s reaction to the Lord’s pronouncement. In a way, Peter was asking Jesus to abandon the way of the Messiah, and so Jesus rebuked him. Peter allowed his pre-conception of the Messiah to prevent him from really knowing the Lord. But not only Peter. We, too, sometimes want to see the Lord according to our perspective. We want God to act according to our desires. We question him when things happen that do not match our wishes or when prayers go unanswered. Let us be humble enough to admit that “God’s ways are not our ways.”
Pray: Lord, strengthen me when following you becomes difficult.
Act: Pray for people who stand for justice, truth, and freedom.
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