Word to the Wise
Sunday, August 31, 2014 - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
[Jer 20:7-9; Rom 12:1-2; Matt 16:21-27]"You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." [Matt]
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2014 22ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
[Jeremiah 20:7-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27]
"You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."
Peter rejects Jesus' prediction of his [Jesus'] death and resurrection. This cannot happen to the one whom he [Peter] has recognized as "the Christ, the Son of the Living God." There may also be some concern that all his hopes and those of the other apostles for a "kingdom" could be lost. Jesus' reply to Peter is strong: "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me." In other words, "Get out of my way! I know what I'm talking about!"
Jesus then goes on to warn the disciples that to follow him means taking up a cross. The "kingdom" of Jesus will not be like that of Caesar or or Herod. Nor will it be something abstract. It makes demands. There are the hungry, naked, sick and imprisoned to be cared for. There will be misunderstanding and persecution. At the time Matthew composed his gospel, the community was dealing with all these things. Jesus' death and resurrection and the consequences of following him could not be "candy-coated." God's mission could not be stymied by human desires for power and wealth in a political and earthly "kingdom." Thinking as God does is a difficult challenge.
How would we know whether or not we are "thinking as God does?" One good way is to read the "final judgment" scene in Matthew [25:31-46] and ask how we would place ourselves in that scene? Another is to look around at the people whom we admire for their faith and life. Another is to look honestly at ourselves as baptized persons and ask how we share our faith with others? There are other ways. These are just a few. We, at least, want to avoid becoming an "obstacle" to the kingdom, but Jesus summons us to much more. To find that "more," we must think as God does. AMEN