Cycle A - Year I:  

3 September 2023: Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time 

(Liturgical color: Green)

Readings:

First Reading:        Jeremiah 20:7-9

Second Reading:   Romans 12:1-2

Gospel:  Please Read  Matthew 16:21-27 

The cost of disciples!

In this journey of life, how far will you follow Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior?  The first disciples followed Him at the cost of their very lives, except for one who was the betrayer.

Christians, and Catholics are those who follow Jesus in our time. Some follow Him by witnessing with their lives our Lord's preaching; others also follow but within their "comfort zone", and outside of their "comfort zones" they part ways. The latter we call "nominal" Christians or Catholics who listen to Christ's teaching but not in practice. Some are called "cafeteria" Catholics who choose only what they want to follow in the Church teaching.

So we ask the pivotal question: Will you follow our Lord Jesus Christ when He says His only way is through the cross?

In this Sunday's Gospel proclamation our Lord Jesus surprised His disciples with the announcement that He is going to Jerusalem to suffer, die and rise again. So that even with the great miracles and healing He has done, the cross remains at the center of His salvific mission.

Peter, who has been called the "rock" upon which Christ would build His Church in last Sunday's Gospel reacts negatively to Jesus' announcement. Peter objects and that he will not allow these terrible things to happen to Jesus. Peter was thinking in worldly standards, and did not yet understand the meaning of Christ's suffering and death. So Jesus rebukes him: "Get behind me, Satan! You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." (Mt 16:23)   

Peter's reaction portrays his and our own inability  to understand  the mystery of God at work in Jesus, and in ourselves. Peter and the others are confronted with the harsh reality of God's designs, completely unacceptable from the standpoint of human logic.              

That is why Jesus calls Peter abruptly out of his comfort zone into the real world where suffering must be faced. Cross is used here as a proverbial term for suffering and agony, not referring specifically to Jesus' crucifixion.

So Jesus takes the opportunity to further explain to the disciples His mission on earth. "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me." (Mt 16:24) This challenge is meant not only for the first apostles, all of whom but one, would indeed die for their faith. Because our Lord's  words are meant as well for any one of us today who want to call ourselves Jesus' disciples. Are we willing to follow our Lord Jesus Christ through the cross?

What does "taking up the cross" mean to us? Let us reflect in several ways.....

Foremost, it means we must die to our sin.  Jesus makes it clear that we must put to death our inclination to sin. For God hates iniquity!

"Taking up the cross" also means responding faithfully to the demands and duties of our life's calling or vocation. That is, husband and wife take up their cross when they vow to be faithful to one another in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, in prosperity and adversity. Because fulfilling their vow of fidelity means giving up or putting on hold certain personal plans and dreams because the family must come first.

A worker "takes up his cross" when he or she does his/her work faithfully and efficiently, resisting the temptation of corruption and other forms of malpractice at work.

Students "take up their cross" when they remain focused in their studies, giving importance to the sacrifices of their parents to educate them, rather than wasting time and resources on anything that takes them away from completing their education.

Even priests and religious "take up the cross" when they live up to their vow of celibacy for the sake of the mission, and when they choose to give priority to their mission of proclaiming God's kingdom over their own personal interests and even safety, becoming like Christ Himself to others.

There are so many more of such life situations. The point is that we must be ready to do God's will and not our own. It means we are willing to let God tear down whatever is keeping us form God,      whatever obstacles are keeping us from really knowing God's love for us.

Now, does it mean that Christian life is only about sacrifices and drudgery? Well, it is not. Christian life is not all about the cross. Christ's prediction of His passion was followed by the promise of glory in the end. Yes, our Lord will die, but He will rise again. And so if we are willing to die to sin and remain faithful to God's will for us, then not only shall we die for Christ but we shall also rise up to new life with Him, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In the Eucharist at Mass, let us pray for courage and faith to accept the cross as part of our life's journey in following our Lord Jesus who saved the world and us by His passion, death and resurrection.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!