St James Catholic Church

What a reversal we have in Simon Peter’s life from last week.  He proclaims Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, Peter reveals this.  Today Peter hears our Lord tell his disciples he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly and be killed and on the third day be raised.  Now Peter’s response is, “God forbid anything like that happens to you.”  Our Lord says to him, “Get behind me, Satan!  You are an obstacle to me.  You are thinking not as God does but as human beings do.”  One minute he is the rock upon which Christ will build his church, the next he is Satan.

Of course, Peter couldn’t bear the thought of his master and friend suffering such a horrible fate.  Maybe he had a deeper motive in trying to keep Jesus from the cross.  Then he wouldn’t have to face his own cross.  Better to shield our Lord from harm so he could save himself as well.

But Jesus would have none of this new way of looking at what his mission was all about.  So he told Peter that anyone who wishes to become like him had to take up his cross and follow in his footsteps.  Getting too close to our Lord may mean he is going to ask too much of us.  But that is the cost of discipleship.  It’s not easy to follow the Lord and obey his commandments.  The glory of sharing Jesus’ love and friendship far outweighs any sacrifice we might have to make.  Peter had to learn this and so can we.  We make that sacrifice when we resist conforming ourselves to the world we live in.  We sacrifice a   self-centered, comfortable life in this world.  We are called to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him.  So today we embrace whatever crosses we must endure in life.  That’s the best way to follow in Jesus’ path of self-giving love.

Love, Peace, Joy

Fr. Bob