 |
| Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. |
Reflection on Today’s Readings, 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A, September 3rd, 2023
Texts: Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63:2-6,8-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27
Jesus speaks to us today that the hope in Him is worth our suffering and life. This is clear in His words: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” He will reward us for all we might have dared to give up or endured in His name. In His words: “For the Son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done.”
St. Paul also speaks about offering ourselves to God in today’s second reading. He says, “I appeal to you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” We are to offer ourselves to God because the hope we have in Him is worth our life. Offering ourselves to God means allowing our knowledge of Him forms the pattern of our life. We are not to conform ourselves to the world. St. Paul says, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind”.
O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived
Prophet Jeremiah saw the hope we have in God and was seduced. He said, “O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed.” Our hope in God is irresistible. Hence, St. Paul prays thus: “May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we might know what is the hope to which he has called us” (Eph. 1:17-18). Prophet Jeremiah says “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (29:11).
The knowledge of the hope in God is the reason behind Jeremiah's determination to be faithful to God. He says, “For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. If I say, ‘I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,’ there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.” He remained faithful to God in spite of his suffering. This is because he has realised that the hope in God is worth it.
Jesus demands that we carry our cross if we are to follow Him to glory
Jesus Christ also remained resolute in going to Jerusalem to suffer. The author of the letter to the Hebrews speaks of the reason for His determination to suffer. He writes, “looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (12:2).
Jesus shows that any attempt to stop Him could only come from the evil one. This is clear in His response to Peter who was against it. He said to him, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men." Peter saw the way to glory from worldly perspective. That is the way of our world today. Only few people know that sacrificial suffering is not evil but the way to glory. Jesus demands that we carry our cross if we are to follow Him to glory. What we pass through now is not worth the glory that is awaiting us (Rom. 8:18).
In conclusion, we are to bear in mind today that the hope in Christ is worth our life or suffering. Hence, St. Paul appeals to us to offer ourselves to God. Prophet Jeremiah bears witness to this truth by his life. Jesus Christ speaks to us about it. Doubt no longer that the glory which awaits us in Christ is worth more than our sufferings here and now.
Prayer
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we might know what is the hope to which he has called us. May the hope we have in Christ governs our lives, guide our paths and purposes in life. Amen
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
Posts
0 Comments