"WHOEVER WISHES TO COME AFTER ME …, TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME.”

"WHOEVER WISHES TO COME AFTER ME …,

TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME.”

Every time I have the opportunity to meditate on the story today´s Gospel it describes to me (Mk 8: 27-35), by how in one moment Jesus goes from praising Peter for being able to recognize in Him the mystery of being the expected Messiah. In response to Jesus' explanation of his passion and sacrifice, Peter tries to change Jesus' mind, which is why Jesus pushes him away, even calling him Satan. What has happened to Peter to go from being praised by Jesus to being corrected by him?

Peter was able to know the mystery of Jesus and confess it openly, since the Spirit of God acted in him. For this Peter must be open to the experience of God. However, when Peter hears what Jesus says about himself, it does not please Peter, since what Jesus says contradicts what Peter has in mind regarding the Messiah. Peter has been educated with a vision and expectation of a warrior-political Messiah who comes to change the political-social reality of Israel with respect to the other kingdoms of this world, where Israel would prevail. This is why Peter tries to dissuade Jesus. In Peter, his humanity acted, a selfish humanity in which he himself hopes much like Judas, to achieve some kind of human greatness (riches, fame, power). It is for all this that Jesus will say to Peter: “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

Jesus invites us all to take part in the construction of his Kingdom, but it is not a kingdom like those of this world (John 18: 36). The kingdom of Jesus is built on love, service, humility, solidarity, justice, truth, peace. It is a kingdom that must be built with the efforts of everyone, with sacrifices, with decisions. It is a kingdom that requires disciples of Christ willing to carry their own cross, because only by losing one's life for Christ and his gospel can one earn one's life, and be able to help build the Kingdom of God.

Fr. Carlos Flores, OSA