Photo by Nate Isaac on Unsplash
Last week’s gospel leads into this Sunday’s gospel where the sparks fly between Jesus and Peter. Peter is no ýes’ man which may be one reason he is the leader of the disciples. Movements are always started by people with big hearts, enthusiasm and deep commitment.
The commentators on the scriptures inform us that Jesus came to know gradually what the Father wanted from him. The incident with the Canaanite woman, (they say) gave him an appreciation of his universal mission and not just to the Jewish people. This section of the gospel informs us that he is aware that he is going to suffer and die in Jerusalem.
Given the hostility towards him by the authorities, he must have been aware of this and it is clear in other places that the disciples voiced the same concern. The elders, chief priests and scribes were the powerful people in Jerusalem and it is understandable that they did not want any more trouble in their volatile country with the Romans who were efficient and ruthless with dissent.
As usual, Peter is the one who will not accept this comment about future actions and makes his concern plain to Jesus. We read how Jesus turns on him strongly and powerfully and referred to him as being one with Satan, or his representative!
Satan means ‘the adversary’. In St Luke’s gospel, the Spirit drives Jesus out in the desert where he fasts for 40 days and is tempted. St Luke mentions that after Jesus commanded Satan to go away, Satan returns at the appropriate hour which is in the garden of Gethsemane.
This is a strong confrontation between Jesus and Peter. Peter is told he is an obstacle in the path Jesus must take. He says that Peter’s way is not God’s way.
This theme in the scriptures is ever present. We see that disciples must listen and discern what God is asking because often the request is really surprising and challenging. We think of Mary being asked by the angel to be the mother of Jesus. The psalm informs us that God’s ways are different to our ways and what we think is appropriate.
Often the situation is desperate, the disciple is at his wit’s end when God appears and points in a certain direction, for example, Elijah standing at the entrance to the cave. God was present in the breeze not in the hurricane force wind.
This is a situation we can find ourselves in.
If we respond to God then the connection is made between us. We are informed by Jesus that we must take up our cross and follow him. The paradox found in all great religions is here or even in ordinary life if people are wise: the ego, the selfish part of us has to be replaced by God’s presence or something other than the ego which tries to make the world revolve around ourselves.
Having God as our centre is fundamentally our life’s work.
Columban Fr Gary Walker is currently living at the Columban house in Sandgate, Brisbane.
