Based upon numerous studies by sociologists and psychologists throughout the years, their results have told us for the most part that our perceptions about life are based on expectations we encounter whether based on what we are told, see, hear, experience or believe. And, from that conclusion, many people decide what reality is in their lives.
The Prophet Jeremiah in our first reading from his book today begins with this complaint to God: “You duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped; You were too strong for me, and You triumphed.” Father Richard Rohr, OFM, writes in “Naked, and You Clothed Me: Homilies & Reflections for Cycle A” that biblical scholars told him this text was softened from its original language used; so distraught was Jeremiah. And yet, Jeremiah writes in this same reading: “But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.” He realizes he must yield to the greater good of speaking God’s truth or he will lose the inner struggle he has between obeying the will of God in spiritual ways to Satan’s evil worldly ways.
In St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, he writes: “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” His reasoning refutes Jeremiah’s first quote above in that the prophet blames God for the daily derision and reproach he receives because of the message God wants him to deliver. Somewhere along the way, Jeremiah seems to have forgotten that his “yes” to God is a plea for transformation to the will of God in totality. The prophet’s second quote agrees with St. Paul only because his heart is burning to share God’s world with everyone; as all faithful Christians are supposed be doing in their Baptism promise to love God with all their hearts, mind, strength and soul.
It is, of course, Jesus in St. Matthew’s Gospel that brings to a head what conversion we must embrace to make sure we indeed are true disciples of His when He says to the Apostles: “Whoever wishes to come after Me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me.” That is the decision each of us is asked to make if we truly want a meaningful existence on earth that God intends for us and to receive salvation for ourselves, those we love and who we touch in our lives.
Discipleship is not about achieving success, greatness or status. Jesus is asking each one of us to dedicate our lives in totally loving and serving others even if, at times, this involves misunderstanding, ridicule, pain and even death itself. We need to let go to find ourselves.
Pope Francis writes in The Joy of the Gospel: “Jesus wants us to touch human misery, to touch the suffering flesh of others. He hopes that we will…enter into the reality of other people’s lives and know the power of tenderness.” That’s how we deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus as His disciple. We allow God into our hearts to give us the strength to face that which frightens us so we can give the best of what God offers in love and peace.
Let us take this week to search deep within our soul for stumbling blocks that cause us to resist God’s call to the full realization of discipleship so we can accept God’s love for us and be obedient to His will. Like Jeremiah, following God can come with difficult inner struggles, but the fire of God’s love burns deep inside us and we cannot and must not quench that which brings about the truth of our faith and trust in God for us and all we touch.
Reading 1: Jeremiah 20:7-9
Reading 2: Romans 12:1-2
Gospel: Matthew 16:21-27
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