"The most difficult thing of all — yet the most essential — is to love life, even when you suffer, because life is all."
Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910, Russian novelist and social reformer)
As a child growing up in SS Simon and Jude Church on Greentree Road in Scott Township, I witnessed my Mom attending Mass daily at 6:45 AM. The pastor, Fr. Carey, entrusted her with a key to open up the church and turn on the lights. Fr. Carey told her, “Guard this key. Protect it with your life. And whatever you do, don’t duplicate it.” Mom treasured this key and to her it was more important than the key to her own house. Fr. Carey and my Mom were "bigger than life" figures to me at such an early age. Fr. Carey baptized me which opened the key of faith to my spiritual journey. Mom cultivated and nourished the faith of our family by opening the key of faith to our lives. Little did I know that the Sign of the Cross which Mom daily made would become the sign that we would daily be called to live. The Cross being a summary of the whole life of obedient love which prepares us for ultimate sacrifice.
As I think of keys and doors, my thoughts go to St. Joseph School. Sadly, our school doors will not open this year at St. Joseph after 58 years of Catholic education. I pray for all the teachers and students who will begin at new schools in the area. May faith allow us to see and unlock new possibilities.
In Have You Heard the Good News, Fr. Edward Dowling notes three contrasts between the Gospels from last week and this week. The first contrast regards Jesus’ disposition toward Peter. In last week’s Gospel at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus entrusted to Peter the keys of the kingdom (Matthew 16: 13-20). Peter is the divinely appointed head of the Church and the Church will last forever through God’s promise and protection. However, in today’s Gospel (Matthew 16: 21-27), Jesus is upset with Peter and responds with an uncharacteristically strong and harsh rebuke as Peter tries to circumvent the very essence of God’s will and plan. As Jesus foretells His suffering and death at the hands of the religious leaders, He reminds His disciples that they, too, must be prepared to face hardships, difficulties and sufferings. Peter does not want to hear it. And so, while last week Peter is called “Rock,” the foundation of His Church, this week he is called “Satan,” one who is set on destroying the Church. Jesus gives Peter a command, “Away with you!”
The second contrast which Fr. Dowling notes between last week’s Gospel and this week’s regards a play on words. Last week Jesus changed Peter’s name to “Peter” which means “rock” saying, “On this rock I will build my Church.” This week we find another play on words when Jesus says, “You are an obstacle to me.” Here we have the Greek word “scandalon," from which we get in English “scandal.” A scandal traps, snares and captures. In this passage, Peter is therefore not a foundational rock but a “a stumbling stone or block.” Like Peter, we must accept the scandal of our own weakness and not rely on ourselves but on the Lord. We must hold fast to faith through the scandals of our lives. And hold on to God’s Word to heal us and free us from our sins.
The third contrast Fr. Dowling notes pertains to Peter’s position. Last week Jesus gave Peter the primacy in the Church, making him first. This week, Jesus puts him last by telling him to get behind him. This command, “Out of my sight” (get away, get behind me) can also be a strong warning to “Follow me.” Peter, who is to lead the Church, is to not go off course on his own but rather follow in the footsteps of Jesus. So, too, in our lives we can get off-course in our often materialistic and secular world which tempts us with many possessions, pleasures and powers. There are powerful psychological appeals that urge us to become attached to particular brands of food, clothes, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and cars. And so we keep buying more and more. And we desire more and more. We do not have time or energy to see the deeper meaning of life. The driving seduction of the world can lead us off course from the message of the Gospel.
In the letter to the Romans (12: 1-2), St. Paul reiterates the message of Jesus regarding the priorities of our lives. Paul reminds the community at Rome not to fall victim to the allurements, enticements and seductions of the day and age. Christians are not to be conformed or molded to the present time because this age is passing away. The advertising industry influences us to think that we will be happier and more fulfilled if we possess all the creature comforts, all the gadgets that make life easier and fun and all the cosmetics that promise beauty and popularity. Yet our plush bank accounts will quickly dwindle and our athletic trim bodies will grow old and weak. St. Paul reminds us that the enticements of this world are empty and fail to bring true happiness. He tells us we need “to be transformed by the renewal of our minds.”
It is through the art of discernment in prayer and ongoing conversion that one looks within to distinguish the will of God from other competing desires of the flesh and the world. The will of God is about what is good and pleasing and perfect. As brothers and sisters in Christ we journey together in pursuit of the good of God’s divine goodness. Through our shared sacrifices as a family and community we Christians make ourselves available to support others to seek, know and follow God’s will. Jesus lovingly but sternly exhorts us, “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” (Matthew 16: 24-25). There is no great love without sacrifice, self discipline and mortification for the path to lowliness always passes through the cross. And without the cross there is no true love, no genuine joy, no lasting purification and no possession of God.
God’s will is found in our willingness to take up our cross and conform our lives to Christ, the suffering Servant and Messiah. St. Augustine said, “Determine what God has given you, and take from it what you need. The remainder is needed by others.” The “hour of triumph” is the victory of the Cross.
