I had a crush on this girl once before and she was at my house. She was from Eastern Europe and she was a Muslim. I was infatuated with her. I had left my Bible on a table. So before she came over, I flipped the Bible upside down so as to hide the cover. I was thinking that she might like me less if she saw a Bible. I also knew that I might engage in sinful activities with her and I didn't want the Bible around to remind me of my wrongdoing.
What a HORRIBLE sin! What a capital insult to God! Paul said not be be ashamed of the Gospel. Could I have expressed my shame of the Gospel in a more real way?
This story is similar to Peter's denial of Jesus, which we will discuss this week. If you want to know what is at the heart of Christian living, please read on. There is commentary following the Gospel and the other readings are at the end.
Reading II
Rom 12:1-2
I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.
Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect.
Gospel
Mt 16:21-27
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.”
Then Jesus said to his disciples,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,
and then he will repay all according to his conduct.”
Denial
Since the Gospel talks about denying ourselves, let's take a look at the classic story of Peter's denial of Jesus in Matthew 26:69-75.
What a HORRIBLE sin! What a capital insult to God! Paul said not be be ashamed of the Gospel. Could I have expressed my shame of the Gospel in a more real way?
This story is similar to Peter's denial of Jesus, which we will discuss this week. If you want to know what is at the heart of Christian living, please read on. There is commentary following the Gospel and the other readings are at the end.
Reading II
Rom 12:1-2
I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.
Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect.
Gospel
Mt 16:21-27
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.”
Then Jesus said to his disciples,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,
and then he will repay all according to his conduct.”
Denial
Since the Gospel talks about denying ourselves, let's take a look at the classic story of Peter's denial of Jesus in Matthew 26:69-75.
Peter denies knowing Jesus to the point of cursing and swearing. Well, let’s imagine for a moment what it would be like to have your best friend arrested for a heresy against the church (a crime that would bring death). We are talking about the Church that you love and that you have given yourself to. What would that do to your reputation if everybody knew that you were best friends with a foul, blasphemous heretic- a man who according to the local priests was so horrible that he deserved to die? Yet in your heart, you are CERTAIN that this man is no heretic. He is the Son of the living God. He is God himself. You are certain of it. This was Peter's situation.
Now someone asks you, “hey, aren’t you friends with that heretic who just got arrested?" Uhhhhhhh………….. So here we are- Peter had an important decision to make. Would he “deny himself and take up his cross” (suffer embarrassment and persecution), or deny Jesus (God)?
In the second reading, Paul suggests us "to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice". Sacrifice means to surrender or give up for the sake of something else. Paul equates sacrifice with not acting like (conforming) to the current times. He also suggests (indirectly) that if we DON'T conform ourselves to the current times, we will be able to discern the will of God. In other words, the people of "this age" do not like to sacrifice themselves, nor do they know the will of God. The inability to sacrifice makes it difficult or impossible to know the will of God.
Now Peter had a major decision to make. Should he suffer extreme embarrassment and perhaps outcasting by the local Church, or should he "offer himself (his reputation) as a sacrifice holy and pleasing to God" as Paul says?
This is the decision we make every day. Do we deny ourselves, or do we deny Jesus? Do we sacrifice something that we want, or do we do whatever is popular? Jesus offers the answer in the Gospel. Here is what decision time looks like today:
Work and Money- The boss tells you to exaggerate or to lie for the financial benefit of the company and yourself. Do you deny yourself by losing the money and support of your boss, or do you deny Jesus by doing what is unethical?
Sexual Temptation- Do you deny yourself pleasure and remain chaste, or do you deny Jesus by giving in to temptation?
Telling the Truth- If you tell the truth, you will be embarrassed, but if you lie, you will be impressive to others. Do you deny yourself by speaking the embarrassing truth, or do you deny Jesus by lying and looking good to others?
Difficult People- A difficult person says something that annoys you. Do you sacrifice yourself and just put up with this person, or do you deny Jesus by fighting back?
Being a follower of Jesus is challenging. Every day we are left to decide between serving ourselves and serving God. Jesus loves us and he makes the following promise: "the Son of man will repay all according to his conduct"- that is, God will give you what your actions deserve. For people who "conform to this age" that is bad news. For those who've denied themselves for Jesus, these words are a promise of an eternity of joy. We must act accordingly.
Now someone asks you, “hey, aren’t you friends with that heretic who just got arrested?" Uhhhhhhh………….. So here we are- Peter had an important decision to make. Would he “deny himself and take up his cross” (suffer embarrassment and persecution), or deny Jesus (God)?
In the second reading, Paul suggests us "to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice". Sacrifice means to surrender or give up for the sake of something else. Paul equates sacrifice with not acting like (conforming) to the current times. He also suggests (indirectly) that if we DON'T conform ourselves to the current times, we will be able to discern the will of God. In other words, the people of "this age" do not like to sacrifice themselves, nor do they know the will of God. The inability to sacrifice makes it difficult or impossible to know the will of God.
Now Peter had a major decision to make. Should he suffer extreme embarrassment and perhaps outcasting by the local Church, or should he "offer himself (his reputation) as a sacrifice holy and pleasing to God" as Paul says?
This is the decision we make every day. Do we deny ourselves, or do we deny Jesus? Do we sacrifice something that we want, or do we do whatever is popular? Jesus offers the answer in the Gospel. Here is what decision time looks like today:
Work and Money- The boss tells you to exaggerate or to lie for the financial benefit of the company and yourself. Do you deny yourself by losing the money and support of your boss, or do you deny Jesus by doing what is unethical?
Sexual Temptation- Do you deny yourself pleasure and remain chaste, or do you deny Jesus by giving in to temptation?
Telling the Truth- If you tell the truth, you will be embarrassed, but if you lie, you will be impressive to others. Do you deny yourself by speaking the embarrassing truth, or do you deny Jesus by lying and looking good to others?
Difficult People- A difficult person says something that annoys you. Do you sacrifice yourself and just put up with this person, or do you deny Jesus by fighting back?
Being a follower of Jesus is challenging. Every day we are left to decide between serving ourselves and serving God. Jesus loves us and he makes the following promise: "the Son of man will repay all according to his conduct"- that is, God will give you what your actions deserve. For people who "conform to this age" that is bad news. For those who've denied themselves for Jesus, these words are a promise of an eternity of joy. We must act accordingly.
Gospel
This gospel continues right after last week's where Peter was praised for being the only man who recognized Jesus. Peter knew that Jesus was God. Peter knew that Jesus was king of the Jews. Peter loved Jesus and he figured that it made no sense for the King to die. So he says, "God forbid!" But Jesus tells Peter that he is not "thinking as God does" (sacrifice yourself), but as human beings do (conform to this age). The 2nd reading describes the essence of our Christian lives and the mission of Jesus. We are not to conform to this age, but rather we are to offer ourselves as a sacrifice to God. Before Pentecost, Peter and the other apostles had difficulty understanding this. If they had understood this, they would not have run away when Jesus was captured. Again, it is suggested by Paul in the 2nd reading that without sacrificing, it is hard to see (discern) the will of God. That is why Jesus uses the powerful words "get behind me SATAN! You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Peter wanted Jesus to NOT sacrifice himself. Running away from sacrifice is to avoid the Christian life and mission- "to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice" as Paul says. Jesus is the perfect picture of how to live the real Christian life. He offers his body "as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God." He also does not conform to this age.
The above examples, show real world situations we face every day. The world says to us "God forbid!" if we want to pass up overtime pay to be with our families, the world says "God forbid!" to couples who sacrifice of themselves by having lots of children. The world says to us "God forbid!" to a night of prayer rather than hanging out with friends. Our teacher says “Whoever wishes to come after me must DENY HIMSELF, TAKE UP HIS CROSS, and follow me. Personally, I know some people who live this way, and they look strange to the world. Yet in their eyes, you can see that their destiny is heaven and they have an incredible peace knowing that God "will repay all according to his conduct.”
The Point
Real Life
By a sheer gift from God, I lived a poor, missionary life for the past year. Every day, it was impossible to have what I wanted. I wanted air conditioning and it was difficult to sleep. But, I didn't get my way. I wanted to watch sports, but there was no television- I didn't get my way. I wanted to do as I pleased- yet I could not leave the property without permission. I wanted to use the internet, there was none available at the ranch. I wanted to hang out with friends, but they lived 1500 miles away. I wanted to take a shower, but I could only take 2 per week. The first 3 weeks was very difficult for me.
Everyone knows what happens when you give a child everything he wants. Soon, he literally screams because he can't have what he wants. In every situation, he is looking to get what he wants. He becomes mean to others and self-centered. He is difficult to be around. He can be very annoying to his friends in school (if he has friends). He has difficulty appreciating things. He often complains. Everyone has met children like this who always get what they want.
If everyone understands this, then why do we give ourselves permission to do whatever we want when we become adults? Why do we give ourselves what we want all of the time? Have we forgotten what that does to people? The more we get our way, the more we WANT to get our way. It is a powerful cycle of greed and blindness to God's will. If we weren't obsessed with having our way all of the time, we might be able to understand the life of Christ and how to be like him.
Now, when I visited my family last Christmas (after 4 months of a lifestyle of sacrifice), I noticed something. I was so accustomed to NOT getting my way, that I no longer CARED about getting my way. I would listen to someone talk, and I could SEE THEM clearly. I was able to listen patiently and keep my mouth shut. Before, I would be talking to someone, and I saw them as an obstacle to my schedule, and my goals. Before living in the desert, I was constantly thinking about what I wanted to say while someone was talking and so I was a terrible listener. I wanted my way all of the time.
And so what happened to me after living months of sacrifice? I no longer wanted my way because I was so used to it. So when God asked me to do something inconvenient, like listen to an annoying conversation, or tell the embarrassing truth, all of a sudden it was easier because I was accustomed to doing things I didn't want to do- sacrifice. After all, who actually enjoys fasting? Who likes telling the embarrassing truth? Who likes to say "no" to beautiful girls when they want to sin with you? These are not my favorite things to do!
Maybe we should sacrifice just as we do during lent with our primary fast being a fast from sinning. Maybe if we stop ourselves from ordering the most expensive thing on the menu, watching our favorite TV program, buying the newest toy and instead give our time and resources to God, we will understand sacrifice better. If it becomes part of our everyday lives, we might even be able to respond properly when Jesus says "I am going to suffer and die". Instead of saying, "God forbid!", we might say, "okay, I understand why you are doing this. I'm coming with you. Let me deny myself, take up MY cross and follow you my Lord."
God loves us.
Reading 1
Jer 20:7-9
You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped;
you were too strong for me, and you triumphed.
All the day I am an object of laughter;
everyone mocks me.
Whenever I speak, I must cry out,
violence and outrage is my message;
the word of the LORD has brought me
derision and reproach all the day.
I say to myself, I will not mention him,
I will speak in his name no more.
But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart,
imprisoned in my bones;
I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
R. (2b) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
You are my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
My soul clings fast to you;
your right hand upholds me.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
This gospel continues right after last week's where Peter was praised for being the only man who recognized Jesus. Peter knew that Jesus was God. Peter knew that Jesus was king of the Jews. Peter loved Jesus and he figured that it made no sense for the King to die. So he says, "God forbid!" But Jesus tells Peter that he is not "thinking as God does" (sacrifice yourself), but as human beings do (conform to this age). The 2nd reading describes the essence of our Christian lives and the mission of Jesus. We are not to conform to this age, but rather we are to offer ourselves as a sacrifice to God. Before Pentecost, Peter and the other apostles had difficulty understanding this. If they had understood this, they would not have run away when Jesus was captured. Again, it is suggested by Paul in the 2nd reading that without sacrificing, it is hard to see (discern) the will of God. That is why Jesus uses the powerful words "get behind me SATAN! You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Peter wanted Jesus to NOT sacrifice himself. Running away from sacrifice is to avoid the Christian life and mission- "to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice" as Paul says. Jesus is the perfect picture of how to live the real Christian life. He offers his body "as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God." He also does not conform to this age.
The above examples, show real world situations we face every day. The world says to us "God forbid!" if we want to pass up overtime pay to be with our families, the world says "God forbid!" to couples who sacrifice of themselves by having lots of children. The world says to us "God forbid!" to a night of prayer rather than hanging out with friends. Our teacher says “Whoever wishes to come after me must DENY HIMSELF, TAKE UP HIS CROSS, and follow me. Personally, I know some people who live this way, and they look strange to the world. Yet in their eyes, you can see that their destiny is heaven and they have an incredible peace knowing that God "will repay all according to his conduct.”
The Point
- Sacrificing our lives to God is a central part of Christian life
- Jesus came to offer himself as a sacrifice for us. Why do we refuse to imitate him?
- Every day, we choose to deny ourselves, or to deny Jesus. In the end all will be accounted for.
- Without sacrificing of ourselves, we will not be able to know what everyone Christian wants to know- the will of God.
- If our lives look like everyone else's in the world (conformity) it's unlikely we are aware or even concerned with God's will
- Denying ourselves is a powerful way to imitate Christ.
Real Life
By a sheer gift from God, I lived a poor, missionary life for the past year. Every day, it was impossible to have what I wanted. I wanted air conditioning and it was difficult to sleep. But, I didn't get my way. I wanted to watch sports, but there was no television- I didn't get my way. I wanted to do as I pleased- yet I could not leave the property without permission. I wanted to use the internet, there was none available at the ranch. I wanted to hang out with friends, but they lived 1500 miles away. I wanted to take a shower, but I could only take 2 per week. The first 3 weeks was very difficult for me.
Everyone knows what happens when you give a child everything he wants. Soon, he literally screams because he can't have what he wants. In every situation, he is looking to get what he wants. He becomes mean to others and self-centered. He is difficult to be around. He can be very annoying to his friends in school (if he has friends). He has difficulty appreciating things. He often complains. Everyone has met children like this who always get what they want.
If everyone understands this, then why do we give ourselves permission to do whatever we want when we become adults? Why do we give ourselves what we want all of the time? Have we forgotten what that does to people? The more we get our way, the more we WANT to get our way. It is a powerful cycle of greed and blindness to God's will. If we weren't obsessed with having our way all of the time, we might be able to understand the life of Christ and how to be like him.
Now, when I visited my family last Christmas (after 4 months of a lifestyle of sacrifice), I noticed something. I was so accustomed to NOT getting my way, that I no longer CARED about getting my way. I would listen to someone talk, and I could SEE THEM clearly. I was able to listen patiently and keep my mouth shut. Before, I would be talking to someone, and I saw them as an obstacle to my schedule, and my goals. Before living in the desert, I was constantly thinking about what I wanted to say while someone was talking and so I was a terrible listener. I wanted my way all of the time.
And so what happened to me after living months of sacrifice? I no longer wanted my way because I was so used to it. So when God asked me to do something inconvenient, like listen to an annoying conversation, or tell the embarrassing truth, all of a sudden it was easier because I was accustomed to doing things I didn't want to do- sacrifice. After all, who actually enjoys fasting? Who likes telling the embarrassing truth? Who likes to say "no" to beautiful girls when they want to sin with you? These are not my favorite things to do!
Maybe we should sacrifice just as we do during lent with our primary fast being a fast from sinning. Maybe if we stop ourselves from ordering the most expensive thing on the menu, watching our favorite TV program, buying the newest toy and instead give our time and resources to God, we will understand sacrifice better. If it becomes part of our everyday lives, we might even be able to respond properly when Jesus says "I am going to suffer and die". Instead of saying, "God forbid!", we might say, "okay, I understand why you are doing this. I'm coming with you. Let me deny myself, take up MY cross and follow you my Lord."
God loves us.
Reading 1
Jer 20:7-9
You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped;
you were too strong for me, and you triumphed.
All the day I am an object of laughter;
everyone mocks me.
Whenever I speak, I must cry out,
violence and outrage is my message;
the word of the LORD has brought me
derision and reproach all the day.
I say to myself, I will not mention him,
I will speak in his name no more.
But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart,
imprisoned in my bones;
I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
R. (2b) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
You are my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
My soul clings fast to you;
your right hand upholds me.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
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