Then he said to them,
“But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
He scolded them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
He scolded them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
- Jesus asks about his reputation;
- Jesus' more pointed, personal question, and
- Peter’s response;
- Followed by his prediction of suffering, death and resurrection;
- And finally, his teaching on discipleship.
All five points are related but nonetheless mysterious and demanding. How does our response as disciples relate to what the crowds say of Jesus? Are we among the crowd or set apart from them?
How does a conversation that began with "What do the
crowds say about?" end up with, "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it?" With an ominous prediction along the way: "The Son of Man must suffer greatly...."
Jesus off-hand question plunges into the heart of darkness, taking us with him. His prophecy recalls the ominous utterance of an ancient prophet, Zechariah, which we heard in today’s first reading:
Jesus off-hand question plunges into the heart of darkness, taking us with him. His prophecy recalls the ominous utterance of an ancient prophet, Zechariah, which we heard in today’s first reading:
and they shall look on him whom they have pierced,
and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son,
and they shall grieve over him as one grieves over a firstborn.
and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son,
and they shall grieve over him as one grieves over a firstborn.
Clearly, this suffering is necessary. I sometimes ask the Veterans a
riddle: Jesus was born in Bethlehem; baptized in the Jordan River, healed many
people, celebrated the last supper and was raised on Easter. What did I skip?
If you don’t know the crucifixion you don’t know Jesus. My
point is, “If your loved ones don’t know about your suffering, they don’t know
you.” In the VA hospital Veterans may talk about PTSD, moral injury and the
traumas they have suffered.
As he approaches Calvary, Jesus wants to be known by his disciples. He insists
on that, even to point of predicting what has yet to happen. When Peter
suggests he should not have to suffer – indeed, why should anyone have to suffer? – Jesus rebukes him
sternly. “Get behind me, Satan!”
Our communion necessarily includes our stories of misery
and disappointment, either as memories or as present crises. Christians do not share only our best images and happiest moments. We also confess our failings, fears and sins. We "die" to our guilt and shame by confessing them to each other, by allowing the community to "bear one another's burdens."That sharing may begin with a traditional, sacramental confession but it often needs to go beyond that to trusted friends and loved ones. Alcoholics Anonymous has proven how redemptive and healing transparency can be. This is how we take up our crosses each day and follow in his steps.
No one should have to sing, "Nobody knows the trouble I see."
Excellent!
ReplyDelete