First
Reading – Jeremiah 20:7-9 ©
Responsorial
Psalm – Psalm 62(63):2-6, 8-9 ©
Second
Reading – Romans 12:1-2 ©
Gospel
Acclamation – Ephesians 1:17, 18
The Gospel According to Matthew 16:21
- 27 ©
(NJB)
The Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary
Time (Year A)
Listen!
Do
not ask God to administer the justice you desire. God’s justice is patient, taking
place in eternity. God’s justice is loving and kind, and works toward the
benefit of all creatures; rather, find it in your heart to administer the
justice that God desires.
Consider
the words of the psalmist:
It
is right to thank God, the creator of the universe, it is right to thank God
for all the good things that come our way, but do not blame God for the
hardships we suffer in this life.
Good
things and bad things come to us irrespective of who we are, regardless of what
we do or what we have done, or who we might become. There is no plan to it; God
is no respecter of persons, and God does not love anyone of God’s children more
than God loves any other.
Praise
God and give thanks for the good things, do not dwell on the bad.
Be
mindful!
There
is peace to be had in patience, in contemplation, meditation and prayer.
Make
your life a constant prayer for the grace which comes from God, for the grace
that brings peace to the spirit.
Let
the peace of God within you bubble up like a fountain and overflow with
abundance so that others may quench their thirst and be nourished by it
Consider
the words of the apostle:
The
essence of faith is trust in God, it is the belief that God, the creator of the
Universe, the belief that God loves you, that God knows you and that God has a
plan for you beyond this world. You must believe that this is true for you, and
true for every one of God’s children.
Trust
God, and allow those beliefs to transform you now, in this world; live as God
desires you to live: just, merciful and loving.
Remember the life of Jesus, and God whom he called father!
Is god glorious?
Yes!
God is the creator of the universe and everything in
it, but God’s greatest place is in relationship to us; God’s children, God
greatest glory is the glory of a loving parent.
Know this!
There is hope in the knowledge of God, and remember
that the hopes you have for yourself and those you love are meant to be
extended to everyone; even those you do not love, extend the scope of your hope
to all people, that is the way God leads us.
Be mindful!
If you think that God has promised riches and
glories as the reward of the saints, remember the words of Jesus: the first
will be last and the last will be first, and that true riches are not counted
in gold and silver and precious things.
Consider the gospel reading for today, the
most salient point we should take from this reading does not concern the
prophecy of Jesus regarding his death in Jerusalem, and the resurrection that
followed,
That
prophecy is merely an exercise in propaganda.
The
most salient reading from the gospel for today is not the suggestion that those
who follow Jesus must suffer and die for their faith as Jesus did, such a calling
is situational not universal.
The
most salient reading from today is not the notion that there is a divine quid
pro quo, that life is restored to those who sacrifice it; the economy of
salvation is not a system of barter and trade.
The
most salient reading is not the notion that there is a reward waiting for us at
the end of days, a reward meted out according to measurable behavior that are
quantifiable as either good or bad.
It
is important to note that the disciples, with Peter as chief among them, the
disciples did not understand the mission of Jesus, while he was alive and with
them they rejected it, even scolding Jesus for his intention to follow the
mission he had accepted, because it placed his life at risk.
Jesus
went so far as to name Peter the enemy, calling him Satan; shortly after that Peter
would deny him and any association with him, in the hour of his greatest need.
Be
mindful of this!
Peter
and the disciples lived with Jesus, they were closer to him than anyone, they
ate with him, prayed with him, walked with him, slept next to him, and even
they were confused about his mission.
Take
this away from the reading for today:
If
you find yourself confused about the way, do not worry, you are in good
company
First
Reading – Jeremiah 20:7-9 ©
The
Word of the Lord has Meant Insult for Me
You
have seduced me, Lord, and I have let myself be seduced; you have overpowered
me: you were the stronger.
I
am a daily laughing-stock, everybody’s butt.
Each
time I speak the word, I have to howl and proclaim: ‘Violence and ruin!’
The
word of the Lord has meant for me insult, derision, all day long.
I
used to say, ‘I will not think about him, I will not speak in his name any
more.’
Then
there seemed to be a fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones.
The
effort to restrain it wearied me, I could not bear it.
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 62(63):2-6,
8-9 ©
For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord my God.
O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my
soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry,
weary land without water.
For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord my God.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your
strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life,
my lips will
speak your praise.
For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord my God.
So I will bless you all my life,
in your name
I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth
shall praise you with joy.
For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord my God.
For you have been my help;
in the
shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right
hand holds me fast.
For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord my God.
Second Reading – Romans 12:1-2 ©
Offer Your Bodies as a Living Sacrifice
Think of God’s mercy, my brothers, and worship him,
I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living
bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God. Do not model yourselves on
the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled
by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know
what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do.
Alleluia, alleluia!
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten
the eyes of our mind, so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.
Alleluia!
The Gospel According to Matthew 16:21
- 27 ©
'Get Behind
Me, Satan!'
Jesus
began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem
and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes,
to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then, taking him
aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. ‘Heaven preserve you, Lord;’ he
said ‘this must not happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get
behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is
not God’s way but man’s.’
Then
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him
renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to
save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find
it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life?
Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?
‘For the Son of Man is going to come in the
glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one
according to his behaviour.’
The Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary
Time (Year A)