THE CROSS OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS
Our crosses of life in Christ Jesus are indispensable and they are the only way to eternal life. Life is sweet when you live in blissfulness! Yet, the Christian is not a peaceful life without difficulties. The crosses of life are part and parcel of daily living in Christ Jesus.
The Christian lifestyle is an attraction and seduction to divine romance with God and the Christian fold. Yet, it has its own price: vulnerability to persecution, mockery and rejection.
THE CHRISTIAN SUFFERINGS AND SELF-RENUNCIATION
When Christ said, “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No….” (Mt. 10:34) “… I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Lk.12:49). They are statements of fact that truly Christian life can never be one of comfortability or convenience. Especially, one with an ardent passion for the truth of God´s word. The Word of God is like a two-edged sword, it is piercing, fiery, burning and uncontrollable.
BE AUTHENTIC BUT ROUGHED A CHRISTIAN LIKE CHRIST
There is a quote that says: “Jesus was never a nice guy, but a good guy”, who stands for the truth without fear or favour of anyone irrespective of their titles, status, age, or authority. Hence, his lifestyle, his message and his actions were revolutionary which fascinate, magnate and captivate many authentic followers and as well as provoke anger, bitterness and hatred in many others.
The readings of this Sunday remind us of the Christian suffering, sacrifice and self-renunciation that come with an authentic witness to Christ and the Word of God. There is no easy or shortcut way to glory in the Christian life and even in our daily normal life as humans.
FIRST READING: JEREMIAH 20:7-9
The first reading is from the Prophet Jeremiah 20:7-9, a prophet of doom known for preaching God´s wrath and punishment on the people of Israel. Even though he was enticed by God´s beauty and loveliness to his presence and his word, he could not escape the difficulties that this commitment invoked.
A true prophet cannot stop the burning up passion or zeal for the word of God, bitter and painful as the truth may be, he must speak out without favour or fear of anyone.
This was Jeremiah’s fate in living out his prophetic lifestyle and as well the fate of all true Christians to be prophetic in denouncing evil and corrupt practices without fear or favour of anyone.
Psalm 62: 2-3 articulates “O God, you are my God, for you I long; for you my soul is thirsting. My body pines for you like a dry, weary land without water.” This is the true longing and feeling of an honest, sincere and true seeker of God, his word, and his truth.
SECOND READING: ROMANS 12:1-2
In Romans 12:1-2, a very short and direct reading to the point, St. Paul admonishes the Roman Christians and indeed all of us in the world not to conform to the worldly standards or watered the Christian principles for worldly social conventions. Rather, we should be transformed and renewed in body, mind, and spirit as a spiritual, holy, living sacrifice good, acceptable and perfect to God.
A true Christian cannot live a double-standard life. Conformity and uniformity to the standard of the world is not the Christian lifestyle but a living sacrifice, holy, and pleasing to God in all ramifications of life. This was Paul´s admonition to the Romans and us today.
THE GOSPEL: MATTHEW 16:21-27
The Christian life is a peaceful and joyful life not short of, suffering, pains, trials and temptations. A follower of Christ is one with his or her cross, making the decision to give up all for eternal life.
THE GOSPEL DETAILS IN VIEW
The gospel text of this Sunday Matthew 16:21-27 is the continuation of last Sunday’s text and it invites us to reflect on the true messianic nature of Christ.
However, Jesus takes his disciples by surprise when, after Peter’s great confession of Faith, Jesus announces 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.” After correcting Peter’s protest, Jesus announces the three conditions of Christian discipleship: “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.”
a. First, after the confession and profession of revealed truth to Peter and Jesus´ empowerment of Peter and all who believe this messianic revelation. Jesus´ call to be silent creates ambiguity and misinterpretation of the messianic secret which all must discover in order to follow him unwaveringly.
b. Peter and the disciples thought of Christ: as the conquering Messiah, a warrior king, who would sweep the Romans from Palestine and lead Israel to power. When, in fact, the way of the cross, suffering and self-renunciation was Christ’s way of demonstrating he is the Messiah and the Son of God.
c. The idea of a Messiah of power and glory and conquest did not align with the idea of a suffering Messiah connected to a cross: a defeat and death for Jesus´ disciples and expecting the Jewish nation.
d. Peter was called Satan by Jesus, not in a derogative sense. Satan literally means the Adversary. That is why he refers to Peter’s ideas were not God’s but men’s. Satan is any force that seeks to deflect us from the way of God; Satan is any influence that seeks to make us turn back from the hard way that God has set before us, and Satan is any power that seeks to make human desires take the place of the divine imperative.
LESSON FROM OUR REFLECTION
Implications of the readings of today: Any form of glorious and prosperous gospel in the name of Christ is not only false but satanic in nature. The Christian life involves sacrifices, self-denial, and ascetic: the cross and its pains.
Lord Jesus Christ your suffering, sacrifice and self-renunciation are the deepest challenges to the Christian life of authentic testimony to the truth and the word of God. You did not invite us to take up our crosses but you invite us to imitate you in the Way of Cross.
Almost often it is challenging to continue with the burn with fieriness for the truth and your Word while compromising them for the earthly standard of self-seeking. My prayer today is for you Lord to keep men and women who will not shun the crosses of daily Christian life.
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS
Jeremiah, Paul and Christ’s extraordinary accusation that they were all seduced or enticed by God. Letting their prophetic vocation overpower them, they were involved in many a thankless task.
They had fallen in love with God, so that nothing held him back from doing God’s will, no matter where this might lead.
This week we must ask ourselves: Have we fallen in love with Christ? Are we seduced by him, so as to give to his service all that is ours to give? Wouldn’t that be becoming a living sacrifice?
OUR PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Lord Jesus Christ, teach us to be like you recognizing the fact that there can be no gain without pain, no rose without a thorn, no crown without a cross, or no life without dying. Help us to offer our life, our services, our crosses, our sacrifices, our difficulties, and our disappointments as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God: a spiritual worship to your glory and honour. Amen
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