Gospel: Matthew 16:21-28
21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? 27 “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
"Have in mind the concerns of God, not merely human concerns"
"You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God." This profession of faith represents the core of Jesus ministry in Galilee, dividing Matthew's Gospel into two sections.
The first is the time and the means of introducing Jesus to His disciples, changing their concept about the Messiah and His universal mission.
The second starts with the ascent to Jerusalem where Jesus is going to redeem and save the whole humanity by His Crucifixion and His Resurrection.
Today's Gospel tells us about one of the most crucial events in Jesus' life. The disciples are almost sure that the Almighty and Eternal Son of David is about to restore the Kingdom of Israel and seat them “at His right and left” Matthew 20:21.
Jesus' announcement about His Passion in Jerusalem calls for deep reflection to understand the discrepancy between the disciples' expectations about Christ, the Almighty and the Eternal, and the Crucified Christ. It is an absurd contradiction in their eyes. This is why we see Simon Peter reprimanding him, saying, “God forbid that will happen to you!" (v. 22).
They hold onto their concept of a political Christ. Even on the day of His Ascension, they ask Him, "Are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" Acts 1:6.
Jesus rebukes Peter severely saying, “Behind me Satan!" (v. 23). The refusal of the Passion and sufferings is very human, but Jesus had to go through willingly to redeem and save humans. Jesus foretold the disciples about His Passion leading to His Resurrection, and not about His Passion without His Resurrection.
St. Paul, after meeting the Risen Christ, will write, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" Galatians 6:14.
May we reflect about how we react to Jesus' Passion and to our sufferings today. May we feel His Presence as we undergo sufferings.
May we keep those who suffer in our personal and Church prayers.
With the Way of the Cross, let us adore Jesus‘ Passion, asking for the grace to share in the peace and the joy of His Resurrection.
Caesarea Philippi, now called Banias, where Peter professed his faith in Jesus as the Messiah. It was a place of idol worship in the time of Christ, where statues were placed in the niches of these beautiful stones.