" FOLLOWING JESUS " Sunday Bible _ Text And Video

TWENTY SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)  28 August 2011

FOLLOWING JESUS

Matthew 16, 21 -27

José Antonio Pagola translated by Rev. Fr. Valentine de Souza SJ 

Rev. Fr. Valentine De Souza SJ

Jesus spent some time touring the villages of Galilee. That’s where he spent the best time of his life. The simple people were touched by his message of a good, forgiving God. The poor found themselves supported. The sick and the helpless thanked God for his power to heal and to alleviate suffering. He did not, however, always stay among those people who loved him so much.

   He explained his decision to his disciples: “He must go to Jerusalem.” It was imperative to announce the Good News of God and his project of a more just world, right in the midst of the Jewish religion. It was dangerous. He knew that “there he would suffer much.” The religious leaders and the authorities of the temple were going to kill him. He trusted the Father: “ he would rise on the third day.”

   Peter rebelled at what he heard. It horrified him to imagine  Jesus nailed to a cross. He could only think of a triumphant Messiah. Everything had to turn out well for Jesus. So he takes him apart and he begins to rebuke him: “Never, Lord. This shall never happen to you.”

   Jesus reacts with unexpected harshness. This behavior of Peter seems novel and strange to him. This is not the man who shortly before recognized him as “Son of the living God”. What he is suggesting is very dangerous. So he rejects him  with all his might: “Get away from me, Satan”. The text says literally: “Get behind me, Satan.” Take your place as a disciple and learn to follow me. Don’t place your self in front of me, leading us all away from the will of the Father.

   Jesus wants to make things very clear. He no longer calls Peter a “rock” on which he will build his church; now he calls him a “stone” which makes him a stumbling block and an obstacle in his path. He does not tell him that he speaks as he does because the Father revealed it to him; he makes him see that his line of action comes from Satan.

   The great temptation of Christians is to always imitate Peter: to solemnly confess Jesus as the “Son of the living God” and then try to follow him without carrying the cross; to try to live the gospel without cost or renunciation; to collaborate in the kingdom of God and his justice without experiencing rejection or persecution. We want to follow Jesus without anything of what happened to him, happen to us. That’s not possible.

It is always dangerous to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Whoever decides to follow him, ends, almost always, embroiled in tension and conflicts. He will discover from experience that it is difficult to find peace. Without seeking it, he will find himself carrying his cross. But he will also discover his peace and his unmistakable love. We Christians cannot lead him; we must follow him.

Encourage the following of  Jesus carrying his cross.

We Thank you all especially Rev. Fr. Velantine de Souza SJ  And Mr. Robin Parmar 

 

Source: URL of José Antonio Pagola's Buenas Noticias Web site: 

http://sanvicentemartirdeabando.org

Website for Spanish original and translations: www.eclesalia.net

Jose Antonio Pagola,  vgentza@euskalnet.net , San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain.

English Translation by  (Valentine) Vally de Souza S.J.  vallydesouza@jesuits.net,   Mandal, Gujarat , India.