TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A

 

 

 

By Fr Aju Varghese;

First Reading Jeremiah 20:7-9;

Second Reading Romans 12:1-2;

Gospel Matthew 16:21-27

 

 

 

 

 

 

The readings for this Sunday remind us that Christian discipleship demands self-control, ready to suffer, and readiness to follow Jesus by obeying his commandment of love. Jesus announces the three conditions of Christian discipleship: “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.” 

 

What is the way to glory and victory in the kingdom of God? Jesus told his disciples that he must first suffer rejection, be crucified, and then rise again on the third day. In so many words he explained that there could be no victory an Take up your cross and follow Jesus.  

 

To understand what Jesus meant, we need to understand what "taking up his cross" meant to Jesus. The apostle Paul wrote that Jesus, even though he was God, gave up his divine privilege and became a servant. He came to earth as a man and became totally obedient to God, even to the point that he was ready to die on a cross. That's what taking up his cross-meant to Jesus.

                                                                            

 For centuries the Jews had been looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. The Messiah was imagined mainly in three ways: • (i) Some thought of him as an anointed king who would bring about God’s reign over the whole earth. • (ii) Others were awaiting an anointed priest who would sanctify the world. • (iii) Yet others expected the Messiah to be an anointed prophet who would fully reveal God’s word.   

 

Jesus was not bothered that just a while ago he had appointed Peter as the leader of the Church, but wants to give a clear message to him and all the followers of Jesus that one should conform to the thought and will of God and not to that of the world. 

 

Peter might have thought that by saying that, these kinds of hardships and pain may not befall on Jesus; he was supporting Jesus or consoling Jesus and showing his concern for Jesus. But Jesus wants to make it very clear to Peter and all of us that there could be challenges, struggles and hardships in conforming ourselves with the will of God.                                                            

Jesus goes on to tell the disciples that if they are only interested in their wellbeing or self-preservation they will lose their very life.  This logic is not easily understood by most of us. When we have to face challenges and problems we feel we are not in the loving protection of God. 

 

 Are you ready to Take up your cross and follow Jesus? Taking up our cross means following Jesus is not always easy. It means that Christ must be more important to us than anything else in our life. 

 

Jesus announces the three conditions of Christian discipleship: “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.” • Christian discipleship demands self-control, ready to suffer, and readiness to follow Jesus by obeying his commandment of love.