August 4, 2016

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Gospel MT 16:13-23

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
and he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Then he strictly ordered his disciples
to tell no one that he was the Christ.
From that time on, 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.”
Reflection:
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

After recognizing Jesus as the Son of the living God, Peter goes on to say, “God forbid, Lord,”  to Jesus’ message that He must die and rise again.
I can relate to Peter.
On one hand, I also acknowledge Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Then, rather than accepting His will, I often find myself saying, “God forbid, Lord!”
I pray, “God guide me toward your will for me today.” But, I continue to try to bring about “my interpretation” of what God’s will is for me.
What keeps me from letting go, from completely putting my life in God’s hands?
Fear, fear of not being able to personally control the situation, either directly or passively.
“From that time on, 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.”

Out of fear, Peter said, “God forbid” to Jesus’ announcement.
Just as Mary responded to the Angel Gabriel, “Let it be with me according to your word,” Jesus also was able to put all things in the hands of the Father.
Through their example,  I have learned that by insisting on “my will,” I create “road blocks” for the will of God to come about in my life.
Our loving Father’s  plan for my life can only come about when I stop insisting upon my own will.
“When you let go, something magical happens. You give God room to work.”
– –  Mandy Hale