Gospel: Mark 6:17-29

Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”
He turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
Then Jesus said to his disciples,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,
and then he will repay all according to his conduct.”

The Gospel of the Lord.
The Mass intention is for Bridget Doyle RIP.
Reflection:
Last weekend, we heard Jesus praising Peter for his confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:16). In today’s Gospel, Jesus rebukes Peter and calls him “Satan”. Sr Marion Moeser commented: “Peter is the only human person called “Satan” in the gospels, and using Satan’s name indicates that Peter expected Jesus to establish an earthly kingdom. Jesus has rejected this notion as turning away from his mission from God when he sent Satan on his way in the desert. Now Jesus tells Peter that avoiding suffering and death is equivalent to Jesus turning away from his mission and from God”. Peter would not understand completely God’s plan for Jesus. After the Last Supper, he denied our Lord three times. This, despite his declaration of dying for Christ (Matthew 26:35).
A story goes that when the Christians in Rome were being harshly persecuted, St Peter tried to flee. Along the way, he met Christ and he asked the Lord “Quo vadis, Domine?” (Where are you going, Lord?) To which, Jesus replied ” “Romam eo iterum crucifigi (“I am going to Rome to be crucified again”). Upon hearing the Lord’s response, St Peter came to his senses and went back to Rome where he met his end. He could have ignored the Lord, he could have ditched his mission and go back to become a fisherman, but he didn’t. Why? Because Jesus called him to be a fisher of people! Because now he understood what it means to be a disciple.
• How do you deal with people making fun of you because of your faith?
• How can you unite your own suffering with Jesus’ suffering?
• “True glory is the glory of love because that is the only kind that gives life to the world” (Pope Francis). How do you show the glory of love in your vocation?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Forgive us for the times when we have strayed from our commitment to You by seeking earthly kingdoms. Strengthen us to carry our cross and follow You faithfully and lovingly. Amen.
Fraternally,
Pietro