Fr. Francois Noha s.x.
The discipleship of Jeremiah and Peter
The 22nd Sunday in ordinary time year A invites the disciples to purify and clarify their sense of belonging and the fellowship that goes along with the discipleship of Jesus. The first reading invites us to contemplate the journey of discipleship as Jeremiah narrates his story of calling with God. All these experiences orient and lead us to these questions: what does it means to follow Jesus? What does it entail to be sent? The experiences of Jeremiah and Peter will lead us in our effort to uncover the mystery.
The prophet Jeremiah experience the overpowering presence of God that led him to feel seduced by God. He recognizes the victor of God over him and has accepted to accomplish God’s mission. On one hand, the prophet howls and proclaims a message, which is perceived as violence and ruin. In return, from the proclamation of the word of God, he receives mockery, laughing stock daily, insult and derision. On the other hand, the fire keeps burning inside him while giving him the strength to continue the proclamation. Here is the challenge of solitude the prophet faces in his life: he gets this power of God pushing him to continue to continue to proclaim the word of God, at the same time, he is experiencing rejection from the people. How does Peter cope with that?
The gospel narrates the story of Peter who, in following Jesus did not embrace the full understanding of that fellowship. In fact, Jesus’s experience with his disciples is in state of degradation. From the powerful Jesus capable of operating miracles he moves toward a Jesus who begins to say it openly that his life will have a tragic end. Jesus’s ministry is not only surrounded by success, but also with fatal failure; from well acclaimed Jesus after operating miracles to a rejected one for telling the truth to his own people. The temptation is to remain with the triumphant Jesus who expresses his might through miracles. Nevertheless, Jesus will take control of his role as master by invitation to Peter assume his role of disciple.
At this juncture, Jesus teaches us the real meaning of Satan. Satan is the temptation of diverting from God’s thinking and plan and following human’s plan. Satan are all the people who erect themselves as obstacle to God’s plan and project. Satan does not accept to follow. He wants to lead but in a human way. Here, everyone is susceptible to be a Satan. Having the attitude of Peter is not the characteristic of some people but a temptation that awaits every true disciple of Jesus.
On the opposite of Satan attitude, the discipleship is the journey of purification, self-denial and opening to God’s plan for humanity. Here, the human logic is turned upside down. The disciple continues to follow his master. He does not choose some aspects of God plan while rejecting others as Peter attempted with Jesus. In this way, Jesus reminds us that the discipleship is not a “pick and choose” at the supermarket model. It is an invitation to assume the companionship of Jesus with all that entails success and failure, acceptance and rejection, glory and death.
Thanks to the Apostle Paul who reminds us that God’s mercy and patience are not signs of weakness but an opportunity for our conversion. This conversion is a constant search of God’s will in our lives and should remain one of driving force guiding our actions.
In sum, the first reading has alert us of the uneasiness of following the call to prophecy while the gospel reiterate the complexity of the discipleship and the vision of God which always differs from the human one. Jeremiah is called to continue his mission despite the opposition of the people. As for Jesus, he invites Peter to assume the whole of his mission, which will culminate with a fatal end. Marry who humbled herself to become her son’s disciple accompany us on this journey.
The discipleship of Jeremiah and Peter
The 22nd Sunday in ordinary time year A invites the disciples to purify and clarify their sense of belonging and the fellowship that goes along with the discipleship of Jesus. The first reading invites us to contemplate the journey of discipleship as Jeremiah narrates his story of calling with God. All these experiences orient and lead us to these questions: what does it means to follow Jesus? What does it entail to be sent? The experiences of Jeremiah and Peter will lead us in our effort to uncover the mystery.
The prophet Jeremiah experience the overpowering presence of God that led him to feel seduced by God. He recognizes the victor of God over him and has accepted to accomplish God’s mission. On one hand, the prophet howls and proclaims a message, which is perceived as violence and ruin. In return, from the proclamation of the word of God, he receives mockery, laughing stock daily, insult and derision. On the other hand, the fire keeps burning inside him while giving him the strength to continue the proclamation. Here is the challenge of solitude the prophet faces in his life: he gets this power of God pushing him to continue to continue to proclaim the word of God, at the same time, he is experiencing rejection from the people. How does Peter cope with that?
The gospel narrates the story of Peter who, in following Jesus did not embrace the full understanding of that fellowship. In fact, Jesus’s experience with his disciples is in state of degradation. From the powerful Jesus capable of operating miracles he moves toward a Jesus who begins to say it openly that his life will have a tragic end. Jesus’s ministry is not only surrounded by success, but also with fatal failure; from well acclaimed Jesus after operating miracles to a rejected one for telling the truth to his own people. The temptation is to remain with the triumphant Jesus who expresses his might through miracles. Nevertheless, Jesus will take control of his role as master by invitation to Peter assume his role of disciple.
At this juncture, Jesus teaches us the real meaning of Satan. Satan is the temptation of diverting from God’s thinking and plan and following human’s plan. Satan are all the people who erect themselves as obstacle to God’s plan and project. Satan does not accept to follow. He wants to lead but in a human way. Here, everyone is susceptible to be a Satan. Having the attitude of Peter is not the characteristic of some people but a temptation that awaits every true disciple of Jesus.
On the opposite of Satan attitude, the discipleship is the journey of purification, self-denial and opening to God’s plan for humanity. Here, the human logic is turned upside down. The disciple continues to follow his master. He does not choose some aspects of God plan while rejecting others as Peter attempted with Jesus. In this way, Jesus reminds us that the discipleship is not a “pick and choose” at the supermarket model. It is an invitation to assume the companionship of Jesus with all that entails success and failure, acceptance and rejection, glory and death.
Thanks to the Apostle Paul who reminds us that God’s mercy and patience are not signs of weakness but an opportunity for our conversion. This conversion is a constant search of God’s will in our lives and should remain one of driving force guiding our actions.
In sum, the first reading has alert us of the uneasiness of following the call to prophecy while the gospel reiterate the complexity of the discipleship and the vision of God which always differs from the human one. Jeremiah is called to continue his mission despite the opposition of the people. As for Jesus, he invites Peter to assume the whole of his mission, which will culminate with a fatal end. Marry who humbled herself to become her son’s disciple accompany us on this journey.