Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fr Dominic’s Homily

Do we know better than Jesus does? This is what Peter thinks in the Gospel today. But he simply doesn’t want Jesus to suffer. It’s natural that we always try to avoid suffering. It’s human nature. But the only way of salvation was through the cross.

Jesus describe Peter as Satan. These are strong words. So what does he mean by this? Why does he say this? It’s because without knowing it, Peter was speaking for Satan.

Jesus had just revealed to His disciples for the first time the plan: He was to go to Jerusalem to suffer, die, and be raised to life. And not come to establish an earthly kingdom.

Peter couldn’t accept this began to remonstrate with Jesus. He was not setting his mind on God’s ways, plans and purposes. Instead, his mind was set on the things of man, the world and earthly values.

Jesus was explaining that way of the cross was God’s will and through it all mankind will be redeemed. But to Peter the idea of Jesus dying was unthinkable. He hadn’t realized that the path to Jesus’ glory was through suffering and death upon the cross.

Peter’s thoughts were self-centred. He was inadvertently being used by Satan in thinking he was protecting Jesus.

It was not out of a desire to harm Jesus or to stop the divine plan that he tried to stop Jesus. Peter just wanted to protect him. So the intention with which Peter speaks is good, and Jesus knows this even though the words spoken are evil.

This connection with Satan goes back to Jesus’ temptation in the desert where Satan was tempting Jesus to bring his Kingdom without going to the cross! In other words to have power and glory but without the suffering of His sacrifice.

That must have been a very attractive temptation for Jesus because the anticipation of His suffering caused Him to sweat drops of blood in the garden of Gethsemane.

Unknown to Peter he had been specifically targeted by Satan, but Jesus had counteracted this by praying for him.

You see Satan hates everything to do with the suffering cross because it involves the redemptive blood of Christ. It is thought that the most effective repellents against the devil are: The name of Jesus, invoking his precious blood and Devotion to Mary especially through the rosary.

In terms of Sacramentals (devotional objects): the Crucifix, the brown scapular and the St Benedict’s medal and the rosary.

We too must be careful not to inadvertently speak for Satan. This comes about when our focus is on ourselves. Our careers, our possessions, our security, and the things of the world rather than upon sacrifice and following Jesus. We might think everything is fine – I have a good faith. But there is a difference between knowing the path and walking it.

When Peter wanted his own desires and plans, Jesus rebuked him in order to get him back on track.

Remember that in Roman times crucifixion was one of the most horrific ways to die. It was the punishment for those who undermined the Roman authority. It was a public display of Roman power to drive fear into the hearts of rebellious people. So to say to people that they should actually choose for that that seemed like utter madness.

For us now when Jesus says take up your cross and follow me it means make the choice to follow Jesus whole heartedly. It means placing Christ at the centre of my life and let him define what I do and who I am.

Now in our lives we can choose to avoid the cross to fit in, to avoid pain, to avoid suffering. Take the easy path in life - but this may cost us our relationship with Jesus. If we cling to this world we may lose our supernatural life.

Or we can pick up the cross, follow behind Our Lord to Jerusalem, follow him onto the cross, to suffer with him. And so enter into glory.

Remember that the sufferings we may endure in this life can have a deeper meaning that we can ever imagine.

May our focus always be on God and His plans, so that Jesus never needs to speak to us in the same way he spoke to Peter that day!