Mark 8: 27-35
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it."
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Have You Loved Lately
Peter’s desire that Jesus not suffer is our own desire to rid others of suffering and to avoid suffering ourselves. Yet, Jesus’ sharp rebuke of Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!” underscores the value of Jesus’ suffering as a divine intervention into our human suffering.
A first grader in north Saint Louis asked me once, “Do we all have to die like that?” as he pointed to the crucifix in the classroom. “No,” I said to relieve him of his immediate concern, “Jesus died for us.” Thinking about his question further, however, I realized that, yes, in many ways we must “die like that” in the sense that when we love fully it requires at times suffering on our part and dying to ourselves for the good of others. I think of the 24/7 parent’s love.
Have you loved lately? Have you suffered lately out of love?
—Fr. Chris Manahan, SJ, helps the provincial of the Midwest Province stay in contact with Jesuits in the province 70 and older, as well as Jesuits awaiting tertianship and final vows.
Prayer
O my God, fill my soul with holy joy,
courage and strength to serve You.
Enkindle Your love in me
and then walk with me
along the next stretch of road before me.
How wondrous are the marvels of your love,
We are amazed, we stammer and grow dumb,
for word and spirit fail us.
—St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)
Pray with the Pope
The Holy Father’s Monthly Prayer Intentions Brought to you by Apostleship of Prayer the first Friday of each month.