Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” In today’s gospel (Luke 9:18-22), Jesus asks the apostles a simple question, “Who do people say I am?” But more importantly, he asks the apostles, “But who do you say I am?” Peter responds, “The Christ of God.” In this passage, we see that the apostles finally realize who Jesus is. They identify him as priest, king and profit to all of mankind. It was by the faith placed in Peter by God that Peter recognized who Jesus was. No one on earth could have given him this faith. It had to come from God. We too are given that same faith. Do you see Jesus through the eyes of your faith?

This gospel goes beyond just having faith, this readings was also a prophecy of Jesus’ upcoming passion and death. Jesus tells them that, “The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” He tells his disciples this so they can be prepared for what lies ahead. Jesus lets them know that he must suffer before he can be truly glorified. Jesus freely accepted his fate and embraced what was going to happen to him. We all must face suffering in our lives just as Jesus did when he was crucified on the cross. We can either allow the suffering to control our lives and we can become overwhelmed with it or we can endure the suffering as a sacrifice to God in Heaven. On the cross Jesus defeated Satan and the powers of sin. Jesus’ own suffering and death on the cross gave us eternal life and freedom from the slavery of sin. Suffering provides the same grace for us. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit we can endure the suffering. Our knowledge of Christ the Redeemer encourages us to carry our cross and to live the gospels. Do not let suffering lead you from God, but closer to God.

A Simple Prayer "Lord Jesus, I believe and I profess that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Take my life, my will, and all that I have, that I may be wholly yours now and forever."

Yours in Christ Michael Marcon