August 31, 2014

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Jeremiah 20:7-9

   You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped; you were too strong for me, and you triumphed. All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I must cry out, violence and outrage is my message; The word of the LORD has brought me derision and reproach all the day. I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.

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Responsorial Psalm: 63:2.3-4.5-6.8-9
Response: My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
   O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. (Response)
   Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory, For your kindness is a greater good than life; my lips shall glorify you. (Response)
   Thus will I bless you while I live; lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name. As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied, and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. (Response)
   You are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me. (Response)

Second Reading: Romans 12:1-2

   I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:21-27

   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. 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." 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. 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? 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."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   Jesus presents himself as a model (he began to show his disciple). His life is a life spent for the others. This is lived by making a journey to Jerusalem and suffering greatly at the hand of the elders, chief priests, and the scribes. (These are the people who exercise power over people. They exercise power over religious beliefs, cultural beliefs, social beliefs). Jesus shows that he will stand against these powers and the powerful will destroy him but God will raise him up.
   Peter presents himself as a representative of the people who want to live in this world and be in this world. This is the reason Jesus tells his disciples: “whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” His disciples are asked to deny life (of earthly things), and pick up their crosses (attached in fulfilling this mission) and follow after him (every disciple of Jesus has his own Jerusalem to reach to and his own Calvary to climb up to).