REFLECTION FOR 22ND SUNDAY OF YEAR A
THEME: A DISCIPLE’S CROSS
R1: Jeremiah 20:7-9
R2: Romans 12: 1-2
Gospel: Matthew 16: 21-27
Dear friends, today's readings record two important statements: “You have seduced me, Lord, and I have allowed myself to be seduced (Is 20:7), and, “Get behind me, Satan!” These form the basis of our reflection.
The prophet Jeremiah was sent by God to confront the impious act of the city of Jerusalem and to pronounce imminent destruction of the city if they refuse to change their ways. His words angered the religious leaders and kings who rose up to persecute him. It was surprising that the commoners joined in clamouring for the prophet's persecution. Jeremiah was arrested and beaten. This made the prophet feel abandoned by God, and in his grief he cried, “You have seduced me, Lord,and I have allowed myself to be seduced.” With these words, Jeremiah questioned why God would allow him go for a mission when He knows He will not stay with him till the end.
The experience of Jeremiah is a common experience of those who are sent to preach salvation. Persecution and suffering are always attached to every missionary adventure. This is exactly what Jesus tried pointing out to his disciples when he said he will go to Jerusalem and there he will suffer and die. This statement didn’t make any sense to Peter who had already testified that He is the Christ. As generally perceived by the Jews, the expected Messiah was supposed to be powerful, undefeated, and in fact, immortal. So, how could Jesus say he will go and suffer death? Is he actually the expected Messiah? Hence, Peter rebuked him saying, such can never happen to him. For this, Jesus told Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan!
It may be strange to understand why Jesus will call Peter Satan today, after calling him the rock upon which he will build his church. It does seem Peter forgot that he was just a disciple and as a disciple he is a follower (Nwa azu) and that means he should always be behind, following in the master’s footsteps and direction. His action towards Jesus at that moment was a kind of self mastery, he at that moment was no longer a disciple but was trying to lead Jesus not to go about his mission but Peter’s preventive ideas. Jesus' response was therefore a gentle reminder, that as a disciple, he should always be behind and however comes in front acts like Satan.
As a general reminder, Jesus states again what a disciple must do; a disciple must “renounce himself, take up his cross and follow me.” Self renunciation is identical to true discipleship. This statement is not something abstract to common sense and human experience. For instance, to be an engineer, lawyer or medical doctor, one must renounce many nights of partying, take up the cross of rigorous studies and follow his/her teacher. As an athlete or to win a game, one must renounce taking a lot of food, take up his/her cross of training and follow the coach. Therefore, Jesus is saying, no cross no growth and no pain no gain.
There are three crosses we must identify and carry: cross of inconvenience, cross of witness and cross of martyrdom. For the cross of witness, even though I pray for a sick person, I must make time to visit to make my prayer meaningful. Love goes with sacrifice. I must inconvenience myself to show how much I love him/her. The cross of witnessing is what the second reading if today demands; acting in a different manner from the common way of the world. I must be Christ-like. Cross of martyrdom could be wet or dry. We have many saints who passed through wet martyrdom. For dry martyrdom, we must surrender our wills to that of Christ. We must do only what Christ wants.
*Rev Fr Chukwuemeka Vincent Livinus, SMMM.*
