Homily for the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

 

First Reading: Jer 20:7–9

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 63:2, 3–4, 5–6, 8–9

Second Reading: Rom 12:1–2

Gospel: Mt 16:21–27

St. Monica Catholic Church, San Antonio, TX

We heard in the Gospel last week Jesus renaming Simon Peter and declaring that on this Rock he will build his Church. In the Gospel reading this week, as Jesus begins his journey toward Jerusalem, his tone shifts considerably. He tells his disciples about his impending torture and death. Peter, unable to believe comprehend that the Christ would willingly suffer in this way, chastises his beloved master. Jesus rebukes Peter, telling him to get behind him, calling him ‘satan,’ and declaring him an obstacle in his path. Often when we hear this story, we imagine Jesus angry with Peter and perhaps even barking in his face, Peter shrinking from the Lord in fear and confusion. I doubt it happened in quite that way.

To understand what just occurred between the Messiah and his future vicar on earth, we have to look at an earlier chapter in the Gospel of Matthew. In chapter 4 verses 1-11, Jesus is in the desert wilderness, weak from fasting for 40 days and is being tempted by the devil. Satan offers all the power in the world to him, if the Christ will only bow down to the evil one. In essence, Satan is tempting Christ with kingship over the world, but without going to the cross. Knowing this is not the will of the Father, Jesus rejected Satan’s empty promises. There is no salvation without the cross for in dying, Jesus put to death our death. Scripture says the evil one then left him for a time.

          Today we heard Satan has indeed returned to tempt Jesus, but this time through Peter, who was thinking as Man does, not as God does. The temptation is the same as in the desert: the kingdom without the cross. Here was his friend, the disciple who loved him most, the one in whose own home he had spent so much time during his wanderings around Galilee, echoing the temptation of the devil from three years prior. I can only imagine Jesus, hearing the words of Peter, was heartbroken and so the rebuke was probably delivered by the Lord in hushed tones and sadness. Maybe even through tears. “Get behind me Satan! You are an obstacle to me.” Whereas Jesus rebuked Satan in the desert and told him to Begone!, he tells Peter to get behind him. Not to place himself in front of God as a stumbling block, but to follow behind him in his proper place. Even to the cross, for there is no salvation without the cross. Jesus then teaches us the conditions for true discipleship: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” In his diabolical pride, Satan can never follow Christ.

          It is said by some that there are three types of disciples: the tugboat, the sailboat, and the raft.  Tugboats follow Jesus in both sunny weather and in the storm. They follow even when the waves and the wind of the world oppose him. They are the people who love always, not just when they feel like it. They take up their cross every day. Sailboats are those disciples who follow Jesus only in the sunny weather. They follow Jesus only when the wave and the wind of the world go in the direction they like. When the storms come, they tend to follow in whatever direction the world blows them. They will only take up the cross when it is small and easy to bear. Finally are the rafts. They are not really disciples at all. These people will not follow him even when the waves and wind go in his direction. They identify as Christians only when forced to or when it suits their personal gain. They are Christian in name only and tend to say “I am Catholic, but…”

          In our second reading to the Romans, St. Paul warns us about being conformed to the waves and wind of the world. We are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, just as Christ did on Calvary. We are to discern the will of God and follow it out of love for him who first loved us. That means that we speak and act as Christians, confessing our faith with our lips, our hearts, and with our conduct, even when it is unpopular or not to our benefit to do so. We do not allow ourselves to be tossed about by the waves of politics or the winds of popular opinion. We listen to and heed the teachings of his bride, the Holy Catholic Church. We do not live in fear of the cross, but embrace it when it comes to us.  At the end of the Gospel reading, Jesus teaches that on the last day when he returns in glory with his angels, each of us will be judged by our conduct – how we loved him and how we loved our neighbor. God forbid that on that day Jesus would have to repeat the words of rebuke to us - "get behind me Satan! You are an obstacle to me." Thankfully, we have a just and merciful savior. Like with Peter, Jesus continually calls us back to our proper place. He waits for us in the Sacrament of Penance to welcome us back when we have gone astray.

          In a short while, we will be fed by our Eucharistic Lord in the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Nourished and strengthened by his Precious Body and Blood, let us be work to be more like tugboats and not like little flimsy rafts tossed on the currents of the world. Let our lives proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord and we are his. Let us resolve to take up our cross daily and follow him in joyful hope and refuse to live in fear.

St. Joseph, Most Faithful, Pray for Us!