WORD FOR MISSION
CHRIST'S OPTIONS
XXII Sunday in Ordinary Time Year “A” - Sunday 28.08.2005 Jeremiah 20:7-9 Psalm 62 Romans 12,1-2 Matthew 16:21-27
Reflections Jesus has received the first profession of faith in him as the Messiah (the words of Peter in last Sunday's Gospel). Now he begins a new phase in his preaching: "From then onwards Jesus began to make it clear... (Mt.16:21). It is just like the beginning of his public life, following the preparatory phase (baptism in the Jordan and temptation in the desert): Matthew writes: "From then onwards Jesus began his proclamation with the message: 'Repent... ' (Mt.4:17). Jesus had chosen precise options regarding the way to carry out the mission received from the Father for the salvation of humanity: the choice to be/live as a son and a brother, the option to forgo the easy and illusory means of power, glory and well-being. Faithful to his options, which were chosen according to the mind of God, Jesus proceeded with determination towards his 'hour', ready for the extreme consequences. He talks about them with his disciples and friends, and rejects compromises or reconsiderations suggested by those who thought only as human beings do, according to flesh and blood (Mt.16:17-23). Jesus clearly points out the contrast, the incompatibility between thinking in God's way and thinking in a human fashion (v.23).
On these premises, the revelation of the identity of Jesus continues in today's Gospel. It is the same identity, obviously, but new depths are revealed. He is not only the Messiah-Christ (v.16), but also the Servant, who must "suffer grievously... be put to death and to be raised up "(v.21). Jesus holds that his disciples, too, in the newly-proclaimed family (see last Sunday's Gospel), will have to share his options, travel on the same road, if they want to carry our his same mission. Hence he speaks openly to his disciples about the need to renounce themselves, take up the cross and follow him -- to lose their own lives in his cause (vv.24-5).
Before being a moral and ascetic exhortation to accept tribulations and sickness patiently, these demanding words are a call for the disciple to be identified with the plans of Jesus, and to share his options and his path: "The Gospel reading, in human eyes, it an exhortation to resignation; but Jesus was never resigned! Indeed, he says 'it is necessary for me to be condemned. Why necessary? Because the option I chose on the day on which I said 'get behind me, Satan!', on which I renounced power, the blandishments of physical well-being and the miracle (the three temptations rejected by Jesus in the desert), is an option that brings me inevitably to condemnation!" (Ernesto Balducci). So it is not a Cross that is a burden to be borne with resignation; it is the necessary conclusion to an option that Jesus took freely in the desert. He is certain of his choice, rejects the protests of Peter, the new satan (vv.22-3), and puts the disciple in his place: Peter is not called to point out, but to follow in the footsteps of the Master. Otherwise the rock for the building (v.18) becomes a stumbling-block (v.23), an obstacle. To think in God's way is the basic condition for carrying out, with faithfulness and effectiveness, the Mission that Jesus entrusts to his Church.
The missionary is like the prophet who is often a nuisance and an irritation (1st Reading). But if in his life he identifies with the Master, he bears an inner fire that is overpowering, and drives him to overcome discouragement and adversities (v.9) and to offer himself as a living sacrifice (2nd Reading), so as to become able, through inner renewal, "to discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and mature" (v.2). The challenges of Mission demand that the evangelise, in what he/she does, lets the inspiration come from the one Master and Saviour: Christ. The history of the Missions is full of apostles with a deep passion for Christ and for humanity: Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Avila, Daniel Comboni, Teresa of Calcutta, and Francis Xavier, who opted for Christ rather than to gain the whole world (cf. Mt.16:26). So too, the numerous martyrs of all times. This kind of fidelity is a sure condition of apostolic effectiveness. And of true joy in missionary service. *
The Pope’s Words * “Dear young people, the happiness you are seeking, the happiness you have a right to enjoy has a name and a face: it is Jesus of Nazareth, hidden in the Eucharist. Only he gives the fullness of life to humanity! With Mary, say your own ’yes’ to God, for he wishes to give himself to you. I repeat today what I said at the beginning of my Pontificate: «If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide… Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation». Be completely convinced of this: Christ takes from you nothing that is beautiful and great, but brings everything to perfection for the glory of God, the happiness of men and women, and the salvation of the world”. Benedict XVI Address in the Celebration Welcoming the Young People, Cologne 18 August 2005
In the steps of Missionaries - 28/8: St. Augustine (354-430). After his conversion he was baptised in Milan (Easter, 387). He became Bishop of Hippo and is a Doctor of the Church, a universal teacher in human theological and spiritual experience. - 28/8: Bl. Junipero Serra (1713-1784), a Spanish Franciscan priest, and great missionary in Mexico and in Southern California. - 29/8: Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, a witness to the Truth. He was killed by king Herod Antipas. Around this date there are many references in the Roman Martyrology to other martyrs (Bishops, priests, nuns and lay people) who died at different times and in various places (persecution in England, French revolution, Civil War in Spain, etc.) - 3/9: St. Gregory the Great (540-604), a monk who became Pope and Doctor of the Church. He organised monastic life and Church liturgy. He sent St. Augustine of Canterbury and 40 other monks to evangelise England (597 AD).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Editor: Fr. Romeo Ballan, mcci - Former Director of CIAM, Rome Website: www.ciam.org <http://www.ciam.org/> “Word for Mission” |
