In today’s gospel Jesus predicts about his suffering and death in Jerusalem. Peter responded to it with the words: ““Never, Lord!. This shall never happen to you!”
Peter had recognised Jesus as Christ and savior. He had proclaimed that Jesus is Messiah, the Son of God. Peter’s concept of Messiah did not include suffering and death. He thought of a Messiah who would achieve victory and glory. Jesus is correcting this wrong concept of Peter and many others about the Messiah when Jesus demands Peter to go behind him.
Not only Jesus would suffer and die, but also the followers of Jesus also should undergo the tragedy of humiliation, suffering and death. Jesus calls this as cross to carry. Every Christian has to carry its cross and follow Jesus.
Before the death and resurrection of Jesus cross was a symbol of punishment and defeat. After the death of Jesus on cross it became the symbol of victory and self denial.
Jesus demands his disciples self denial and advices them to carry their cross and to follow Jesus as well as to lose the life for Jesus in oder to win it and enter into the kingdom of God.
The cross, suffering, self denial and renunciations as way of Christianity and as way of Jesus have caused misunderstanding and wrong interpretations. If someone means that the suffering is the will of God and those who suffer should remain in suffering, that will be a wrong interpretation of the teachings of Jesus. Nobody suffers for sufferings sake. In itself suffering is not a value. But suffering, failure and defeat belong to life. They happen even without our mistake and even if we have done everything to avoid them. We can not avoid them very often. There fore It is important how, we deal with it and live with it.
Every faithful should carry its cross. It means that we should consider the word of God and God’s commandments more important than everything else in life. All events and happenings in life have the protection, guidancea and blessings of God. We are invited to face it with the providence of God. God and His message is our strength. Without Him we are not able to fulfil our mission. With God’ help everything is possible.
Fr. Joseph Pandiyappallil MCBS