Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him.

08-30-2020Weekly ReflectionFr. Arul Doss

Dear Brothers and Sisters of my three parishes,

I am very glad to meet you again through this message.

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mt 16:24).

The liturgy of word of God in this 22nd Sunday encourages us to overcome all our obstacles in order to offer ourselves completely to Christ. Hence, all the readings lean towards total submission and conformity to Christ.

In the first reading, Jeremiah laments: “you duped me, o Lord, and I let myself be duped” (Jer 20:7). He simply complained about the toughness of his mission. Though Jeremiah resisted, he eventually submitted to God: “and I let myself be duped” He conformed to God’s will, and was no longer in charge of himself. Rather, the word of God burned like fire in him, that he could no longer resist preaching it. After submitting to God, eventually, the Jeremiah who was very timid, and did not know how to speak, became fully transformed.

In the second reading, Paul says “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship” (Rom 12:1). Here, Paul calls us to submit completely to God without resistance and reservation. To present our bodies is to submit our faculties and the totality of our being. The total surrender to God is essential to a life of righteousness, joy, peace and victory in Christ.

In today’s gospel, we see the irony of life. The same Peter who proclaimed that Jesus is the messiah last week, is today rebuked as “Satan.” Christ simply rebuked him for being an obstacle to his mission. This shows that though, Peter professed that Christ is the Messiah yet, he has not fully understood the nature of Christ’s mission.

He still sees it only from the perspective of royalty and glory. Of course, he was eager to participate in these. This also teaches us that, we are all vulnerable to making mistakes, no matter how spiritual we are. Peter could not understand why Christ should be talking this way. However, God’s call is not only about, and participating in his glory, it is also participating first in his suffering. This is what Christ did. That He offered himself as a living sacrifice, means that he submitted everything without reluctance for our salvation.

Faithfulness to God at times brings us trials, disappointments and even sufferings. At times, he allows us to experience pains. However, in spite of all these, He shields and blesses us. We have our Mother Mary, Joseph and the saints to intercede for us. And, ultimately, we have Jesus, who helps us carry our crosses and who loves us beyond measure and will provide his love until the end of our journey in this world so we can share eternal life with Him in heaven.

Have a Happy and Blessed Sunday!

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