Poor Peter...last week he hits the ball out of the park by identifying Jesus as the Messiah, Son of the Living God. But this week he blows it. Can you blame him though? Jesus reveals to the disciples what is to come and Peter doesn't understand why Jesus would have to go through all the suffering and death; his reaction is strong: "God forbid it, Lord!"
Jesus' response to Peter includes some of the hardest words we Christians hear. If we, like Peter, have our minds focused on human things, we will trip ourselves up. Instead, Jesus says: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." These are not words of comfort. These are startling words - shocking words. What does that mean for us comfortable Christians today?
Perhaps it is a copout on my part, but I believe that Paul gives us some good advice in his letter to the Romans. I don't think it's an accident that the passage on letting "love be genuine" is paired with this gospel reading (Romans 12:9-21). Paul's instruction to the people is a wonderful guide for how we should and can live our lives as good Christians today: "...be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer...extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you...Do not repay anyone evil for evil. If possible...live peaceably with all." And finally: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
All of the above is easier said than done, but it is our calling to do our best to live this way. How else will we be known as Christians?
M.E.+
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