REFLECTION

Gospel

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”  “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves 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 and for the gospel will save it.                                                                                                                          Mark 8: 27-35

Reflection

“A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest”. This line from a song entitled “The Boxer” by Simon and Garfunkel could be applied, without irreverence to Peter. Peter, speaking on behalf of the other disciples, has just proclaimed his belief that Jesus truly is the long-awaited Messiah. Like all the rest of us Peter wanted to hear this consoling message.

He found the rest of what Jesus had to say less palatable. He didn’t want to hear about suffering, rejection, killing but also rising from the dead. It must have been a great shock to Peter to hear himself called Satan! Jesus then turned to all those listening to him and that includes you and me - “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves” etc.

In life there are two crosses; the cross of Satan and the Cross of Christ. We have to choose. At the beginning the former will seem light and pleasant. With the passage of time, however, it will get heavier and heavier, leading to sadness and heartbreak. The latter may seem heavy at the start. It will get ever lighter and lighter in the long run, leading to a happiness without end.

Julie Leonard Religious Education Leader/Wellbeing Leader