Sunday August 30th 2020: Read Br Michael’s Gospel Reflection

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Get behind me Satan!

Today’s gospel continues directly from last Sunday’s when Jesus asked his friends who he was for them. Peter responded by saying that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. So far so good. Today Jesus continues the conversation by telling them him that he will suffer grievously, be put to death and that he will be raised three days later. However, Peter who last week, full of enthusiasm was on Jesus’ side now begins to argue and disagree with what Jesus has just said. He takes Jesus aside and plainly says to him, ‘Lord, this must not happen to you’. Despite his admiration and respect for Peter, Jesus wastes no time in responding, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path… if anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let them take up their cross and follow me’. This is the very opposite of the compliment that he paid Peter in last Sundays gospel. So what are we to make of this conversation between Jesus and Peter?

Last Sunday’s gospel was very upbeat and positive. Peter knows who Jesus is. Jesus calls him the Rock, on whom the church will be built. Now today Peter doesn’t like what he hears from Jesus when he speaks about suffering, discipleship and the cross. For all Peter’s enthusiasm and exuberance in proclaiming Jesus as the Christ, it only takes a few seconds for Jesus to rebuke him for thinking not as God thinks, but as humans do. Peter wants to be a follower of Jesus, but only on his own terms, not those of Jesus. 

May be that’s a bit like us, well it’s definitely the way it is me. I am happy when Jesus is teaching, healing, and forgiving. I like Jesus the good shepherd, the bread of life and the light of the world. However, when Jesus talks about his own suffering and as a disciple I need to carry my own cross and follow him, I am not so happy! But I can’t simply pick and chose the bits of being a follower of Jesus that I like and ignore the challenging and demanding parts of being his disciple. There no other way of saying this; with Jesus, it’s all or nothing! To share in the new life of Jesus’ resurrection, I am also called to carry my cross and experience his suffering. I can’t have one without the other. There is no Easter Sunday without Good Friday.

This is where we can look to Peter for strength and encouragement. On one hand he proclaims Jesus as the Son of God. On the other hand he doesn’t fully appreciate the path Jesus must travel. Peter is not a perfect disciple. He swings from enthusiastic faith to fearful doubt, perhaps much like you and I. Despite Peter’s fear and objection to Jesus’ suffering as well as denying him, Peter is forgiven and restored by Jesus and asked to lead the new group of believers until he finally gives his life for Jesus and his faith as a martyr in Rome. 

Peter is a man we can look to and admire as someone just like us. He should bring us hope. Like him, none of us are perfect followers of Jesus. At times, we too fall and fail. We too are often reluctant to follow Jesus with our cross. We may at times even deny him. But Jesus never deserts us. Like Peter, if we can accept and live with our mistakes and at the same time remain faithful, Jesus can use our ordinary and sacred lives to build up and promote God’s Kingdom and his Church.

– Br Michael Moore OMI

‘Get behind me, Satan!’