Deacon Matt's Reflection

Reflection for 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time: September 3, 2023

Jeremiah 20:7-9: We hear Jeremiah recounting his feelings of abandonment by God and sadness over betrayal by both church officials and his people, as a consequence of sharing the prophetic message. Though Jeremiah is proclaiming prophetic truths, church leaders and the people receive the message as a personal insult and threat against them. Their response is, quite literally, to attack the messenger. Consequently, Jeremiah cries out to God; bemoaning the paradox of feelings he’s experiencing. Jeremiah feels empowered… even irresistibly compelled… to speak the prophetic message, despite retaliatory attacks against him that have brought him both physical and emotional pain and suffering. This suffering by Jeremiah foreshadows Jesus’ own suffering as he endured the Crucifixion. With divine grace and supernatural empowerment, the prophet continues to speak out, anyway.

Psalm 63: “My soul is thirsting for You, O Lord my God.” After hearing Jeremiah’s crying out to God as he suffered for the Kingdom, this psalm seems singularly appropriate for today… a song expressing longing for God’s power and ability to deliver all who suffer and feel disempowered, abused and abandoned. The psalmist expresses confidence in God’s power and ability and abundance of kindness and compassion to alleviate suffering. In the third verse, the author celebrates the irresistible urge to proclaim his faith and confidence in God and gratitude for God’s fulfilling all of his desires; answering petitions perfectly. Jeremiah had such confidence in God; yet, while suffering such physical and emotional agony as he did, while in prison; he had to continually make the decision to have faith, despite situational and temporary pain and suffering. This is the level of faith, to which we all are called!

Romans 12:1-2:  Paul encourages us to offer our suffering to the Lord in a mindset of sacrificial self-giving. Paul invites us to offer our bodies and all of our sufferings as a voluntary gift of ourselves to God in total self-denial; following the example of Jesus, in His suffering on the Cross. The mindset to which we’re called is one of total submission to God, surrendering to God’s Will with complete trust in God’s provision for whatever needs we have.

Nowhere does Scripture suggest that this decision to sacrifice all is easy. Paul does suggest, however, that there are consolations. He alludes to our experiencing a “renewal of our minds” that will open us to awareness of, and discernment of God’s Will for us.

Matt 16:21-27: In today’s Gospel, Jesus acts as a role-model; carefully sharing with the disciples His own decision to submit to our Heavenly Father’s Will. Jesus is asking us to follow His example. He’s making clear the steps and challenges of the path that He will walk, to total self-surrender, self-sacrifice and, ultimately, martyrdom.

When Peter tries to dissuade Jesus from His (Jesus’) Sacrifice, Jesus scolds him. Peter’s mindset was momentarily, selfish. Emotionally reacting, Peter is focusing on his own grief over Jesus’ imminent death; forgetting or misunderstanding that Jesus’ death and Resurrection are fulfilling God’s Will. Similarly, Jesus is encouraging us to “take up our crosses” and follow Him. This week, let’s take some time to identify and “accept” or suffering. Then, with our minds renewed; let’s offer up all of our “challenges” in life, as a sacrifice of love and praise to God.

Contemplatively,
Deacon Matt