Taking up your Cross ~ A reflection on the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

I thought I would do something a little bit different today. Sometimes, I write reflections for our parish blog and I did so for last week's readings. This is what those readings said to me...

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jer 20:7-9
Ps 63:2-6, 8-9
Rom 12:1-2
Mt 16:21-27

It was just last week that we heard how Peter recognized Jesus for who He is: the Christ, the Son of the Living God. But in the Gospel reading today, Matthew describes how Peter becomes a stumbling block for Jesus.

Jesus is trying to prepare his disciples for his coming arrest; and the suffering and death he will have to endure at the hands of the chief priests who are plotting against him. Peter, who had just confessed his belief in Jesus as the Son of God, cannot believe what he is hearing. No, it can't be true! This cannot happen to God's Son!

But Jesus admonishes Peter: "Get behind me, Satan... You are an obstacle to me!" (Mt 16:23)

You can imagine how Peter felt. Perhaps he still believed that Jesus would reign over an earthly kingdom. How could Jesus be subjected to suffering and death and still be the Son of God?

Jesus then explained to his disciples and to us today what it means to be his follower, to be a Christian. We must deny ourselves and take up our own cross for his sake. To live according to his Word. We must expect to be persecuted and to suffer and perhaps, even to die for our faith.

Are we even willing to make such a sacrifice? Jeremiah faced a similar crisis of faith long ago when he decided he could no longer speak the Lord's Word to the people:

"I say to myself, I will not mention him,
I will speak in his name no more.
But then it becomes like fire
burning in my heart...
I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it." (Jer 20:9)

Even though he was being mocked by the people, Jeremiah realizes that God's Word cannot be restrained and thus he must speak.

Paul also recognized what needed to be done as he taught the Christians of Rome,

"... offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God..."(Rom 12:1)

We are not to conform ourselves to the world but to renew ourselves so that we can desire only to do God's Will.

Doing the Will of God is how we become holy and pleasing to Him. The psalmist understood our yearning for the presence of God in our lives as he prayed:

"...you are my God whom I seek;
For you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts...

...your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you." (Ps 63:2, 4)

The Hand of the Lord feeds us

This morning I was asked to substitute for the lector who was supposed to do the First Reading. I gladly do this when asked because serving in this way is one of my favorite gifts to my parish. I have been a reader for thirty years, I guess, and I have learned to read well. There is something about the words of Scripture that come alive for me as I read them. And I believe they come alive for the people who are hearing the words also. It is a gift that God has given me; and that I happily share with others.

Our first reading was from Isaiah (Is 55:1-3). I absolutely love the Prophet Isaiah... always have. It is always a joy to bring his words to life.

Today, Isaiah brings us the Lord's words of comfort to us hungry people. It connects so well with the Gospel reading where Jesus feeds the multitude who have been listening to His Words. Isaiah brings us the Lord's invitation to the feast:

"All you who are thirsty,

come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, receive grain and eat;
Come, without paying and without cost,

drink wine and milk!..."

Can't you hear the Lord's compassion and in those words. "Come..." He beckons to us as He reaches out to us over the centuries... He knows we hunger and thirst, not only for earthly food but for the Food only He can provide.

In the Gospel, Matthew describes the empathy that Jesus feels as He looks over the crowd that the disciples wanted to send away to get their own food. Even though Jesus had originally wanted to be alone in a deserted place to pray, He found the crowd waiting for him. Matthew says,

"...his heart was moved with pity for them..."

Jesus did not want to send them away because He realized that they were hungry for His Word... for the hope He gave them... for the healing He brought them...

The miracle occurred in such a beautiful and simple way... Jesus took those few loaves and fishes, broke the bread and blessed them and had his disciples distribute them among the people. Such a reminder of our own Eucharist... Bread blessed and broken... so that our hunger can also be satisfied.

I was particularly moved this morning as I read Isaiah's words and am grateful to have been asked to do this reading on this day.

Lord, help me to hold out! ~ A Reflection on the Second Sunday of Lent

Our parish Lenten theme this year are the words taken from a gospel song that we sing: "Lord, help me to hold out!" Each Sunday after Communion, a member of the Liturgy Committee will give a short reflection on the Gospel for this week and how our theme connects with the Gospel. This week's Gospel tells the story of the Transfiguration, Matthew 17:1-9. I was selected to give this reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent.

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Lord, help me to hold out...
Until my change comes!

In today's Gospel, we learn that Peter, James and John were chosen to witness a profound change as Jesus was transfigured before them. There on the mountain, His glory, which is the glory of God, was revealed to them.

"Lord, it is good that we are here," they said.

The apostles recognized that something wonderful was happening and they wanted to capture those moments and to hold on to them forever. They responded in such a human way as they planned to set up tents for Jesus, Moses and Elijah so that they could remain in that holy place. But they didn't really understand what this transfiguration meant and then were terrified when the Father spoke from the cloud... "This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased... listen to Him." By giving these instruction to the apostles, Our Heavenly Father was telling them that if they paid attention to Jesus, their lives would be transformed too...

During this Lenten season, we are asked to change our lives. To listen to what the Beloved Son is telling us through His suffering and death... To have faith that no matter what trials we are facing, God's grace and mercy will carry us through. To forgive others as Jesus did from the cross... To reconcile with others before we bring our gifts to the altar. To recognize that acceptance of God's grace allows us to change.

When our lives are truly lived with the light of Christ within us, we will be transformed also... Our light will shine like the sun!

So, we ask God to help us to hold out... To give us patience... until our change comes.