Shikrot Mpwi – Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk
Twenty Second Sunday of the Year, A – September 3, 2023
Readings: Jeremiah 20:7-9; Responsorial Psalm Ps 62:2-6,8-9;
Rom 12:1-2 & Gospel Matthew 16:21-27.
Theme: The Cost of Discipleship
Sunday Synopsis
The first reading foreshadows Jesus as the suffering servant who allows himself to be seduced, overpowered, insulted, derided, and imprisoned in his bones. In the second reading, St. Paul urges us to offer up our bodies as a holy sacrifice pleasing to God. The reading suggests that the faithful embrace self-abnegation much like Jesus who renounced everything to the redemption of the world. In the gospel, Jesus told his apostles that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously be put to death and raised on the last day. Jesus insists: If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Introduction
Friends in Christ, today our liturgy presents one of the greatest scandals of the Christian faith namely, Christianity of the Cross. Our reflection touches on the demands of following Jesus which entails renunciation and taking up one’s cross as criteria for true discipleship.
Background and Summary of the Readings
The first reading (Jeremiah 20:7-9) foreshadows Jesus as the suffering servant who allows himself to be seduced, overpowered, insulted, derided, and imprisoned in his bones. The text foreshadows the suffering servant whom the Prophet Isaiah also speaks about.
In the second reading (Rom 12:1-2) St. Paul urges us to offer up our bodies as a holy sacrifice pleasing to God. The reading suggests that the faithful embrace self-abnegation much like Jesus who renounced everything for the redemption of the world.
In the gospel (Matthew 16:21-27), Jesus tells his apostles that he is destined to enter Jerusalem and suffer grievously and put to death but will be raised on the third day. Like the other apostles, Peter could not understand why he who walked on water, cured the sick and even raised the dead to life would walk sheepishly into the hands of his enemies and be killed.
He then takes him aside probably so as not to scandalize the other apostles and begins to remonstrate with him, but Jesus replied: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.” Jesus surmises: “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Jesus’ Divine Agenda Versus the Apostles’ Human Agenda
Jesus’ mission unveils a sweet scandal. “You are an obstacle in my path” which Jesus says as a rebuke to Peter meant his life, mission, passion and resurrection – a messianic secret which his apostles did not clearly understand at the time. Below is a list of contrasts to that effect:
1. While they were thinking that their master would establish an earthly kingdom (Luke 1:32,33) of power where they would like the sons of Zebedee one on the right side of Jesus and other on the left (Mark 10:35), Christ came to establish a heavenly kingdom (Luke 1:28-33).
2. While they were concerned about greatness and being served (Matthew 18:1), Jesus insisted that he came to serve, not to be served and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 16:27).
3. While the apostles sort to crush their enemies (John 18:10), Jesus forgave limitlessly and revealed the father’s divine countenance towards humanity (Matthew 18:21-22).
4. While the elders, chief priests and scribes were planning to have him hanged (Matthew 26:3-4), Jesus was planning to take away the sins of the world (1 John 3:5).
5. While the apostles were seemingly thinking of saving money for the poor in the case of Judas Iscariot (Jon 12:6), Jesus praises Mary for preparing him for his passion (Luke 7:44-46).
6. While they were thinking of saving life (Matthew 16:22), Jesus empathically states that he who saves his life would lose it (John 12:25).
7. While the apostles were concerned about gaining the whole world (Luke 9:46), Jesus scandalizes them with: “What would profit a man if he wins the whole world at the expense of his life?” (Matthew 16:26).
8. While they thought about conquest through violence (Luke 22:36-38), Jesus took to conquest through defeat on the cross (1 Peter 2:24).
9. While they demanded immediate reward (Matthew 19:27), Jesus points to the prize of eternal life in heaven (Matthew 19:28-29).
Pastoral Lessons
1. Embrace Christianity of the Cross: Both the first reading and gospel urges us to embrace Christianity of the Cross bearing in mind that Christ started his life from the cradle of Bethlehem to the cross of Calvary and that he was not rich which was why he borrowed a crib to be born, a donkey to ride on, a pulpit to preach on, a boat to sail on, a house to stay, money to pay the customary tax, a home to eat the Passover and needed funding that was why Judas kept the money bag.
2. Offer Your Body to the Lord: In a world where many people are constantly burnt up by the fire of pornography, masturbation and sexual promiscuity, the message of St. Paul charges that we offer up our bodies as a holy sacrifice pleasing to God in imitation of Jesus the author and finisher of our lives who willingly embraced self-abnegation and renunciation for our redemption.
3. Key into God’s Agenda: The seeming parallel between Jesus’ divine agenda and the apostles’ human agenda reminds us that although life is a constant struggle between sarkinos, the flesh and pneumatikos, the spirit, good and bad, light and darkness, we ought to avoid the mistake of Peter who remonstrated with the Lord by always making God’s agenda for our lives a priority.
4. Avoid sugar-coating the gospel: In a society where prosperity “gospellers” feed fat on the gullibility of people by inviting them to Churches where there is no suffering such as sickness, bad luck or even death while they smile to the bank, pastors of souls are charged to refrain from sugar-coating the gospel.
5. Be Bold with the Truth: In a society where we like to play to the gallery by saying things to please people instead of telling them the truth when they go wrong, Jesus’ words to Peter “Get behind me, Satan,” sets the bar for us to speak truth to power and those around us, and as it were, naming and shaming sin for what it is – for instance, we did “it” in reference to either adultery, fornication, or abortion so as to conceal sin and guilt.
Summary Lines
1. The first reading foreshadows Jesus as the suffering servant who allows himself to be seduced, overpowered, insulted, derided, and imprisoned in his bones.
2. In the second reading, St. Paul urges us to offer up our bodies as a holy sacrifice pleasing to God.
3. The reading suggests that the faithful embrace self-abnegation much like Jesus who renounced everything to the redemption of the world.
4. In the gospel, Jesus told his apostles that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously be put to death and raised on the last day.
5. Jesus surmises: “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Conclusion
On this Sunday, the Church reminds us that Christ lived simply, taught the apostles same and went through the Royal Road of the Cross our sake. As such, we are called to embrace the daily challenges of our lives with the hope that things would be better if not here, in the world to come. It behoves pastors of souls who are exemplars of faith to point people to Christ and not to themselves and preach Christ crucified. Have a fabulous week ahead!
