WEEK FOURTEEN: JESUS PREDICTS HIS PASSION DAY 1
MORNING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD:
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer on Matthew 16: 21-23: First Prediction of Passion and Resurrection "From that time on, 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. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." 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."
Read the Reflection; then pray using Matthew 16: 21-23; ask for an intimate knowledge of our Lord, who has become man for me, that I may love Him more and follow Him more closely (#104)
While there were times when Peter was truly inspired by the Holy Spirit, there were other times when he acted out of fear, arrogance, and sin. There is a juxtaposition of two very telling passages in Matthew 16. In one, Peter acknowledges Jesus as Messiah and Lord. After this wonderful exchange between them, Jesus makes the first prediction of his passion, death, and resurrection. Peter's reaction was to take Jesus aside and remonstrate with him. Jesus' reaction is strong and he does not mince his words: "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." (verse 23) Peter has a long way to go. He has not yet come to a true understanding of who Jesus is, what his mission is about, and how he is going to save the world. Jesus will save the world as the Suffering Servant-Messiah, not as a political King who will restore Israel to its pristine glory. Peter, at this stage of his discipleship, definitely did not subscribe to Jesus' world-view. Hence, Peter has no comprehension of what Jesus meant when he said that he would rise from the dead. While Jesus loved his leader-disciple wholeheartedly, he never hesitated to confront and mentor him, sometimes harshly." Taken from Mold me as Your Disciple by Michael Fonseca.
"You are not thinking as God does but as human beings do." The contrast between Peter and Jesus, in one sense Peter gets it for he sees Jesus as Lord but on the other sense he tries to teach Jesus(God). I have never done that Eamon says laughing out loud. I look at all the times that I am an obstacle to God, I get in His way because I am not thinking like Jesus. To be able to humble yourself and be taught by another and by God is a gift from God. Allowing God to rebuke you and discipline you is also a gift as well as painful but these are things that are necessary if we are to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. He does tell us to "follow Him", being teachable in daily prayer is the beginning of a never ending relationship with your Father in Heaven.
What is God saying to you? Listen, don't be critical of yourself and take my words to heart. Peter struggled with My rebuke but he took them to heart and became a better disciple even to the point of death on a cross, upside down.
Dear Lord, it is good that we are here, it is almost like a fire side chat as I watch the flames dance around the room. This journey with You is rewarding for I get to learn from my Creator who knows me like no other. I thank You for all the teachable moments even when I am being stubborn, You are still loving me with the right words or images. Prayers for hardened hearts that are following You justified in their own actions not knowing it is a stumbling block to Your Kingdom. Prayers for a couple recovering from an intense surgery, may they be at peace. Bless this day Lord and all it has to offer, in Jesus name, our Teacher, Amen.
Mary, Queen of Heaven, Pray for us.
St Joesph, Solace of the Wretched, Pray for us.
Viva Cristo Rey.
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
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