Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Sunday, 31 August 2014 Catholic MeditationsMeditation: Matthew 16: You’re Not in the Driver’s Seat
21-22 Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, “Impossible, Master! That can never be!”
23 But Jesus didn’t swerve. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.”
24-26 Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
27-28 “Don’t be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You’ll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift. This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory.”
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Get behind me, Satan! (Matthew 16:23)
Amazing! In one moment, Jesus tells Peter that his words “You are the Messiah” had come from God himself (Matthew 16:17). Then, almost immediately afterward, because Peter is trying to dissuade him from the cross, Jesus rebukes him and calls him Satan. What happened?
In both cases, it was Peter’s mind that came to these conclusions. It was Peter’s voice that spoke the words. It was Peter’s good intentions that motivated him. Yet one message came from God, and the other, from the devil.
Even with the best of intentions, we can say and do things that help the devil instead of the Lord. This is why it’s so important to try to develop the gift of discernment.
Even after this strong rebuke from Jesus, Peter continued to find himself influenced by the devil. At the Last Supper, he joined the other disciples in arguing about which of them was the greatest (Luke 22:24). Later that evening, he told Jesus that he would never deny him—but he did (22:31-34, 54-62). He even tried to keep Jesus from washing his feet (John 13:5-8). You would think that Peter would have learned by then!
But this isn’t the whole story. Peter did grow in his ability to discern God’s will. On Pentecost Sunday, his preaching converted thousands (Acts 2:37-41). His willingness to reach out to Cornelius and his family, even though they were Gentiles, enlarged everyone’s view of God’s plan (10:25-48).
Like Peter, we are going to be influenced by the devil and end up doing things that hinder God’s plan. It’s just the way we are as fallen people. But that’s not the whole story. Jesus wants to teach us how to identify the devil’s ploys. If you pray for grace and if you take time each day to reflect on your thoughts and actions, your gift of discernment will grow. You will think and act more like Jesus.
“Lord, fill me with your grace. Teach me to choose your will more and more.” Amen!
Jeremiah 20:7-10 You pushed me into this, God, and I let you do it.
You were too much for me.
And now I’m a public joke.
They all poke fun at me.
Every time I open my mouth
I’m shouting, “Murder!” or “Rape!”
And all I get for my God-warnings
are insults and contempt.
But if I say, “Forget it!
No more God-Messages from me!”
The words are fire in my belly,
a burning in my bones.
I’m worn out trying to hold it in.
I can’t do it any longer!
Then I hear whispering behind my back:
“There goes old ‘Danger-Everywhere.’ Shut him up! Report him!”
Old friends watch, hoping I’ll fall flat on my face:
“One misstep and we’ll have him. We’ll get rid of him for good!”
Psalm 63:2-4 So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,
drinking in your strength and glory.
In your generous love I am really living at last!
My lips brim praises like fountains.
I bless you every time I take a breath;
My arms wave like banners of praise to you.
5-8 I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy;
I smack my lips. It’s time to shout praises!
If I’m sleepless at midnight,
I spend the hours in grateful reflection.
Because you’ve always stood up for me,
I’m free to run and play.
I hold on to you for dear life,
and you hold me steady as a post.
9-11 Those who are out to get me are marked for doom,
marked for death, bound for hell.
They’ll die violent deaths;
jackals will tear them limb from limb.
But the king is glad in God;
his true friends spread the joy,
While small-minded gossips
are gagged for good.
Romans 12: Place Your Life Before God
1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:
(Jeremiah 20:7-10 You pushed me into this, God, and I let you do it.
You were too much for me.
And now I’m a public joke.
They all poke fun at me.
Every time I open my mouth
I’m shouting, “Murder!” or “Rape!”
And all I get for my God-warnings
are insults and contempt.
But if I say, “Forget it!
No more God-Messages from me!”
The words are fire in my belly,
a burning in my bones.
I’m worn out trying to hold it in.
I can’t do it any longer!
Then I hear whispering behind my back:
“There goes old ‘Danger-Everywhere.’ Shut him up! Report him!”
Old friends watch, hoping I’ll fall flat on my face:
“One misstep and we’ll have him. We’ll get rid of him for good!”
Psalm 63:2-4 So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,
drinking in your strength and glory.
In your generous love I am really living at last!
My lips brim praises like fountains.
I bless you every time I take a breath;
My arms wave like banners of praise to you.
5-8 I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy;
I smack my lips. It’s time to shout praises!
If I’m sleepless at midnight,
I spend the hours in grateful reflection.
Because you’ve always stood up for me,
I’m free to run and play.
I hold on to you for dear life,
and you hold me steady as a post.
9-11 Those who are out to get me are marked for doom,
marked for death, bound for hell.
They’ll die violent deaths;
jackals will tear them limb from limb.
But the king is glad in God;
his true friends spread the joy,
While small-minded gossips
are gagged for good.
Romans 12: Place Your Life Before God
1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Matthew 16: You’re Not in the Driver’s Seat
21-22 Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, “Impossible, Master! That can never be!”
23 But Jesus didn’t swerve. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.”
24-26 Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
27-28 “Don’t be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You’ll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift. This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory.”)
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:
1. In the first reading, Jeremiah is so in tune with the Lord that he cannot hold back from speaking of him to others even though it often brings him “derision and reproach.” Could that be said of your faith? What are the obstacles that keep you from talking to someone about your faith in Christ?
2. The responsorial psalm talks of the soul “thirsting” for God. Do you feel your soul is thirsty for the Lord? Why or why not? What can you do to water your soul?
3. In the second reading, Paul speaks of making our bodies living sacrifices, acceptable to the Lord. What does that mean specifically for you? What steps can you take to make this a greater reality in your life?
4. Paul goes on in the letter to the Romans to urge us not to be conformed to the world but rather “be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” What has the biggest influence on your mind: television, newspapers, what others think and say—or Scripture? What specifically can you do to reduce the influence of the first three and increase the influence of Scriptures? What are some steps you can take to open yourself more to the work of the Holy Spirit in renewing your mind?
5. In the Gospel, Jesus had to rebuke Peter, because Peter wanted to tell Christ what he needed to do. How can you increase your receptivity to Christ’s leading, rather than telling him what he needs to do for you?
6. Jesus also spoke of the need to deny ourselves and take up our crosses. What cross is the Lord asking you to bear? How can the support of other Christians help you in bearing this cross?
7. In the meditation, we hear these words: “Even with the best of intentions, we can say and do things that help the devil instead of the Lord. This is why it’s so important to try to develop the gift of discernment.” How would you describe how you use the spiritual gift of discernment in your life?
8. The meditation goes on to say that “Jesus wants to teach us how to identify the devil’s ploys. If you pray for grace and if you take time each day to reflect on your thoughts and actions, your gift of discernment will grow. You will think and act more like Jesus.” What steps can you take to grow in this important spiritual gift?
9. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord for the grace to grow in your ability to discern his will and to continually submit your thoughts and attitudes to the Lord. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
“Lord, fill me with your grace. Teach me to choose your will more and more.” Amen!
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