22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

 

August 30, 2020

 

Readings:

First Reading: Jeremiah 20: 7-9

Psalm 63 “My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord, my God.”

Second Reading: Romans 12: 1-2

Gospel reading according to Matthew 16: 21-27

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Homily:

At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples who he was, and Peter gave his confession that he was the Son of the living God.  Maybe Peter did not know the meaning of and its function as a Son of the living God.  He was just inspired by the Spirit of God, the Father of Jesus. “Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised” (Matthew 16: 21).  So, Jesus began to instruct his disciples about the Son of God, its meaning and function.  He must obey God′s command and will, to save humankind, by giving up his life as a ransom for many sinful souls who fought and disregarded God, the sinful world, the evil of the world (money, power, prestige, corruption, injustices, human degradation, etc. that kill life instead of giving life and dignity to the human persons).  And this life-giving of Jesus will happen in Jerusalem through the hands of the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes – those leaders and authorities in the Temple in Jerusalem, those who lead astray the flock/sheep (people) of God. Jesus also wanted to teach his disciples about suffering, pain, and persecution, even death at the hands of their enemies, opponents and adversaries for the sake of faith in God.  Jesus cannot escape his destiny.

Peter, who had been chosen as the first leader of the Apostles, reacted harshly on what Jesus told and revealed to them.  “Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, ‵God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you′.” (Matthew 16: 22).  Jesus must go to Jerusalem to face his fate.  But when Peter heard that his Teacher and Master will suffer and kill, he took Jesus in a corner and rebuked him, and told him that should not happen, nothing could harm him for he will protect him from his adversaries.  As usual, Peter aggressively acted first without thinking or reflecting on what he should say or do. He just followed his predisposition.

But Jesus sensed and thought that Peter was acting according to the wimps of men and not of God, whom he was inspired a while ago.  “He turned and said to Peter, ‵Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.  You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do′.” (Matthew 16: 23).  Jesus knew that the evil one was behind the mind of Peter, he was dictated by Satan, the enemy of God, who disobeyed God′s will, who fought back against God. That was why he turned back and called Peter Satan by Jesus because he became an obstacle to God′s plan for the salvation of all. He (Peter) was thinking of saving first himself; also he was tempting Jesus not to obey his Father′s will.

Then Jesus faced his disciples and talked to them in front of Peter, so that Peter will use it in his ministry in the future.  “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‵Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it′.” (Matthew 16: 24-25).  Jesus explained to them, those who wish to follow him, the importance of giving and sacrificing oneself to the others.  For in giving his life for the others he will regain his life.  He continued, “. . . ‵What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?  Or what can one give in exchange for his life′.”   (Matthew 16: 26).  Even though he gained the whole world in his hand, when he loses his life, when he dies, this world as his ransom to buy his life cannot use it to save him (his soul).  Only by following Jesus in Jerusalem, offering one’s life for the many, we can find life.  “. . . ‵For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father′s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct′.” (Matthew 16: 27).  Surely, when everything is done, and in the end, Jesus will return again with his angels to judge those who sacrifice themselves in following his example (suffer, die and resurrect) and he himself will give each one his/her reward, which is heaven, eternal life.