28/08/2011 - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Season - Year A
1Reading Jer 20,7-9 Psalm 62 2Reading Rom 12,1-2 Gospel Mt 16,21-27
Today's Gospel continues is a continuation of the one which was proclaimed last
Sunday. Jesus was in the where abouts of Galilee around Caesarea Phillipi with his
disciples. He asked them what was their idea about him and he had admired the answer
given by Simon, to the point of giving him the most important mission. Because of
this he also gave him a new name, Peter, and spoke to him of keys to show him his
role in the reign of God. And now, still far away from the crowds, the Lord warns
his disciples about his coming fate. It's God's will to go to Jerusalemm, where
enimity against him is already very strong by those persons who were influential
and holding key positions. There he will have to suffer and face a violent death,
but afterwards there will be the resurection. This word is almost new and pass by
unobserved, though the disciples themselves would have used it to refer what people
thought of the Master: he was thought to be one of the prophets who was raised from
the death!
This revelation of Jesus is too strange. A man like him, full of love, whose actions
show the omnipotence of God, how could he be rejected by those who lead the venue
of the people loved and preferred by God? Therefore Peter, that now felt good because
Jesus praised him, felt that he had the right and the duty to bring something to
the Master's attention. From being a disciple he makes himself a master of his Master:
he won't take seriously what he heard and starts to argue. This is a very common
way of doing, its spontaneous. We cannot critisize Peter...because we argue like
him. We would want always the easy way, because we are moved with good intentions
and want to do good. We dont accept easily that our lives are difficult and signed
with the cross, especially for 'good' people, who are called to go through. Jesus
understands and Peter's reaction is very similar to the ones he had already faced
and won, in the desert. Therefore he repeats to him what he, then, said to Satan:
"go away" and to Peter: go back to your place, behind me, don't put yourself
before me: this is the place of God the Father.
This is the right moment to tell all the disciples an uncomfortable truth. Behind
Jesus there is only a place for those who renounce themselves, that is, for those
who are not closed on themselves. Those who continue to preoccupy themselves of
their health, of their body, of their wealth, of their satisfaction in life, cannot
be with him: because he won't be able to take care of the reign of God, neither
of the eternal salvation of souls, not even his own. Behind Jesus there is only
a place for those who carry the cross, and so they become like him.
In this way, only those who love him with no second thoughts can stay with him,
those we are really in love with him. The example is given to us by Jeremiah, who
feels won, even seduced, by God, and as if he cannot not obey him, though this obedience
to God draw hatred from all sides. He would want to avoid sufferring, but the love
by which he is filled wont let him, and feels compelled to commit himself for God
even though all turned against him. This burning fire is the most beautiful prophecy
regarding Jesus and his disciples.
Paul repeats with other words the same teaching of Jesus by formulating a beautiful
exhortation: "I exhort you, for the mercy of God, offer your bodies as a living
sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God". To offer one's body is the greatest
act of love, a act of love that makes one like the Lord, who brings us into his
love and make our life perfect and full. This offerring distinguish us from the
world around us, makes us a prophetic sign, and therefore a gift for the conversion
of the world. The first conversion is to be lived by us, by putting on the mind
of God and not ours which is always self centered, or that of men. Once we stop
looking at ourselves we can then start to think of the things above, to be attracted
and won over by the love of the
We offer ourselves to God to continue our conversion. Our life shall become a light
and a source of peace!