Jesus makes the first of four passion predictions in our Gospel today. Peter’s response is to rebuke Jesus while Jesus himself indicts Peter for having the mind of Satan. Our Lord explains further that not only will he himself suffer but each and every one of his disciples will be called to suffer with him. Reading the Gospel with an open heart we discover that following Christ means much more than simply professing Jesus as Lord. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously said, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Davies, W. D., and Dale C. Allison Jr. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. Vol. 2. International Critical Commentary. London; New York: T&T Clark International, 2004.
Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009.
Mitch, Curtis, and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010.
Mass Readings Explained by Dr. Brant Pitre
REFERENCES
Matthew 4:17 - "From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'”
Matthew 4:8-10 - "Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; and he said to him, 'All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Begone, Satan!'"
1 Chronicles 11:19 - “Far be it from me before my God that I should do this."
Galatians 5:11 - "The stumbling block of the cross has been removed."
1 Corinthians 1:22-23 - "For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles."
Philippians 2:5-8 - "Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross."
1 Corinthians 11:1 - "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."