22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A, Year II)
Community Word: Jesus, the Bread of Life, answers the needs of those who heed Him.

Theme: We heed Jesus when we do not conform ourselves to the ways of the world.

Promise: “…whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Mt 16:26b)

Reflection:
Jesus says: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me,” (Mt 16:24). He teaches us that to deny oneself is to make a choice between our desires and God’s will for us. It means to give up our preferences and to do what God plans for our life, to take up the cross of doing what is right and be willing to bear it. Carrying our cross is also accepting and unavoidably living the inconveniences, bearing the sufferings and sorrows of life that we have to endure. Jesus points out that the way to become His disciples involves dying to self, bearing our crosses and readily committing to follow Him.

Peter was just favored as the “Rock” on which Jesus will build His church. Suddenly this rock turns sandy and unreliable. “God forbid, Lord!” Peter rebukes Jesus. It is a rejection of the cross. In one instant, Peter is walking in the Spirit, then in the next he is thinking about himself. Peter calls Jesus “Lord”, but tells Him what to do. But Jesus calls him abruptly out of his comfort zone into reality where suffering must be faced. He reminds Peter that he only sees things from human perspective and does not understand God’s plan.

Sometimes, we too fail right after having a great spiritual victory because pride and self-reliance creep in on us. The fact is, we cannot have it both ways. We cannot claim Jesus as Lord but do not believe in what He says and disobey His commands. In like manner, we cannot ask Him for good things and blessings if we do not accept His directions along the way. The cost of discipleship is high because many times we have to give up our tendency to be self-sufficient and our attachment to our earthly desires. And this requires that we discern what God want us to do.

To be called disciples and followers of Jesus we have to embrace our own cross to attain eternal glory. Our daily cross involves constant courage that we need to face all demands of our Christian faith even if we have to bear hardships through it. In living up to this, Jesus offers us the opportunity to “lose our life” with the assurance and hope of gaining eternal life. As followers of Jesus we should let Him show us the way. Instead of seeking our own personal gain, we should allow every experience – even in moments of distress, struggles and difficulties, to draw us into a closer relationship with our Lord who continues to invite us to place our burdens upon His shoulders.

Be it emotional, financial or personal, the Lord says that carrying the cross is how our discipleship becomes real. It is inevitable if we need to find our way to full discipleship. Jesus teaches us not be afraid to take risks knowing that this is the only way to discover our life. Let us then stand firm and hold on to His promise – “…whoever loses his life for my sake will find it,” (Mt 16:25b).

Prayer:
Almighty God, Your will is our salvation and You desire only what is best for us. Grant us the grace to participate in Your saving works by following Your ways and cooperating in Your holy will. Lead and direct us that we will not be a stumbling block to Your divine plan for Your name sake. Amen.
Reflection Guide Questions:
1. What are the things and circumstances in your life that you have to give up so that you can follow Jesus and fulfill His plans for you?

2. How can you manifest to others that Jesus is your Lord and Savior?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
August 30, 2020 (Sun) – Jer 20:7-9/Ps 63:2,3-4,5-6,8-9/Rom 12:1-2/Mt 16:21-27
August 31, 2020 (Mon) – 1 Cor 2:1-5/ Ps 119/ Lk 4:16-30
September 1, 2020 (Tues) – 1 Cor 2:10b-16/ Ps 145/ Lk 4:31-37
September 2, 2020 (Wed) – 1 Cor 3:1-9/ Ps 33/ Lk 4:38-44
September 3, 2020 (Thurs) – 1 Cor 3:18-23/ Ps 24/ Lk 5:1-11
September 4, 2020 (Fri) – 1 Cor 4:1-5/ Ps 37/ Lk 5:33-39
September 5, 2020 (Sat) – 1 Cor 4:6b-15/ Ps 145/ Lk 6:1-5

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”