Matthew 16: 21-28
Have you ever been through a time in your life when things have gone really well? You know what I mean...when you just can’t seem to do no wrong, when plans come together and everything just falls into place. The sun shines, everything’s rosy, all’s well with the world and it feels good to be alive.
At those times, our confidence is built up, we get a sense of invincibility and it could be said, even a shot of arrogance.
But, let’s be honest, life isn’t really like that. We may experience little glimmers but more often than not, these exciting episodes in our life don’t last all that long and the ups and downs of life quickly return to normal.
Last week in our gospel reading, we heard how Jesus’ disciple, Peter had his moment of glory when he declared Jesus to be the messiah, the son of the living God. He must have been feeling pretty chuffed with himself. For once he had got it right. He had left behind the family fishing business to follow this man Jesus and he hadn’t been disappointed. Jesus was proving to be quite something. He was a man of deep faith, a powerful speaker, he healed people, he performed all sorts of miracles, he’d even walked on water! And just look at the following that he had. He couldn’t go anywhere without crowds of people following him. Yes, he was definitely the one to lead the people to freedom from their Roman oppressors. And not only that, but he Peter, the rock would continue to be part of the inner circle, a trusted confidante who would share in Jesus' victory. Peter must have been basking in the glory and he was feeling pretty good.
This week’s gospel reading tells us what happened next as Jesus began preparing for the next stage. He told his disciples that he would suffer and die at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the scribes, and that on the third day he would be raised. Peter, riding high on his new-found confidence objected strongly. I mean… this didn’t fit in with his vision of the future. What about the overthrowing of the romans and being a military force to be reckoned with?
Jesus’ reaction isn’t what Peter expected. Can you imagine? One moment, Jesus is saying you’re “the rock on which I will build my church” and the next he’s calling you “a stumbling block.”
That told Peter!
Yes, Peter would share in Jesus’ victory but it wouldn’t be the kind of victory that he had in mind. It would be a victory won, not by overthrowing his enemies but by forgiving them. It would be a victory gained by death on a cross and that certainly didn’t fit in with Peter’s plans.
We do that don’t we. Sometimes, we have our plans. We build them up. We look forward to everything falling into place and then something happens and we have to adapt or change things. Not funny, is it?
Jesus went on to tell his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. To pick up your cross can mean many things. Most of us at some time or other have what we may consider a cross to bear. It might be in the form of illness or disability …addiction…an unhappy family life …bereavement…and much more...
None of us can know what will be asked of us in the days, months or even years ahead. Knowing and trusting in God isn’t a passport for an easy life and it doesn’t eliminate suffering. But the thing is, is that there is nothing in this world that we go through that Jesus can’t understand… because he’s been there. He knows all about human suffering. He knows about doubt and fear, about humiliation, betrayal, bereavement…and he knows about love. There is nothing that Jesus has not seen, that he has not heard, nothing that would cause him to stop loving us.
Jesus chose the way of the cross for each one of us. Yes, he could have avoided it. He could have gone back home, picked up the family carpentry business and carried on with a nice quiet life in the rural town of Nazareth…Nothing easier.
But God didn’t come to this world to take the easy path…NO! He came to experience life as we know it. Not just the times when things go right but to see hardship and suffering up close and personal. Christ shares in the weight of our cross. He helps us to bear the load by being with us in the midst of what we’re going through. He suffers with us and for us. We are not alone.
Jesus denied himself of the easy path and took the route to the cross. He told his disciples that “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross.
Deny themselves…
He wasn’t talking about living lives of constant self-denial, of fasting or living lives of abstinence. He was talking about saying yes to God. Of following him wherever that might lead.
When we follow Christ and live a Christian life, we try to follow Jesus’ example. That may mean that we have to think that bit differently to what our natural instinct and reaction would normally be. To give instead of take, to love instead of hate, to forgive instead of condemn.
It isn’t easy.
In the world that we live in, it may mean that we are the odd one out. It may mean sacrifice, putting ourselves out. It may even hurt our pride or go against what we really believe. It may be costly. It may even weigh us down…it’s the cross we bear.
But we don’t do it alone because God is with us. Supporting us, strengthening us, enabling us and loving us…it doesn’t get any better than that.
Ame
and take up their cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it,
but whoever loses their life for me will find it."
Matthew 16:24-25
No comments:
Post a Comment