September 3
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
“My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.”
Readings
Reflection
It’s hard to believe that last Sunday’s remarkable confession of faith from St. Peter about Jesus as the Messiah and today’s episode of Peter’s equally remarkable misunderstanding of Jesus’ identity are in the same exact chapter of Matthew’s Gospel. Actually, there are no verses between these two events! In one moment, Peter is experiencing incredible divine understanding, and in the next he has reattached himself to merely human understanding. It is quite intentional on the part of the evangelist who wants us to observe simultaneously the divine promises given to Peter and Peter’s human weakness.
Today Jesus gives us a helpful mirror… how often we are immersed in the situations of our lives and we become consumed with resolving all the issues according to what we would assume as logical, or responsible! This of course is not bad, and likely that is what we should do. However, in these situations, do we also pray and ask for the wisdom of the Lord to see things with the eyes of faith, rather than only what we perceive?
Jesus offers the command today that might be one of the most succinct and familiar expressions of the Gospel: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
If we were only to approach Jesus’ words from our human perspective, there would be nothing attractive or rational about this command. But rather, it is in the designs of the Divine that this apparent contradiction is, in reality, the path that leads to life. Jesus is not trying to deceive us in this, but truly it is a matter of being invited or led, that continually asks our trust.
What in your life would benefit from you pausing to ask for divine wisdom or the ability to see from a greater, divine perspective? Is the Lord inviting you to a deeper level of trust or patience that might be his helping you to carry a particular cross offering you freedom of life even here and now? Are the prayers of your heart echoing the sentiment of Jeremiah today? Are you feeling discouraged or “duped” by the Lord?
Jesus reveals today that his suffering is not only unavoidable, but that it is also not an end in itself. He himself says that his cross will end in him “being raised.” It takes the wisdom of the Lord for us to be able to have confidence that this is true even for you and me. May we find consolation and intimacy knowing we share a deep communion with the Lord in his own Passion when we find in our own sufferings, as St. Paul says today, the mercy of God. With the help of God’s love and grace, let’s offer our bodies as living sacrifices, as worship to the Lord, confident that he is always guiding us toward eternal life (cf. Romans 12:1-2).
Peace,
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