ALL FOR GOD’S GREATER GLORY
In today’s Gospel, Jesus rebuked Peter for asserting his will against God’s will. It was clear that Peter did not fully understand the import of his profession of Jesus as the Son of God, as told in last Sunday’s Gospel. Then Jesus proceeded to teach them about the value of earthly life vis-a-vis eternal life. The former must be at the service of the latter.
Jeremiah in the First Reading realized it. God assured Jeremiah of His assistance if he would obey God’s Word. Jeremiah had doubts about obeying God’s Word but he felt it burning in his heart and imprisoned in his bones. He could not endure holding it in. He had to proclaim it. He did, but suffered so much, death threats included. He wondered where God was and if he was duped. He felt alone and so many were chasing him. He was afraid and experiencing the consequence of His obedience to God.
St. Paul in the Second Reading also had the same fate. Once converted, he offered his life as a living sacrifice pleasing to God. He counseled us to discern well and not live according to the dictates of this world. It is God who ought to prevail in us. In doing so, we leave nothing to ourselves. Everything is offered to God. It is not selfishness on God’s part, but the way for us to salvation.
Thus, it boils down to what our standards are. Jesus pointed out Peter’s standards and quickly exposed them. While we live in this world, we are not of this world. We are pilgrims on our way to eternal life. We ought to be in this world proclaiming the Good News. We are expected to Christify this world as Jesus did. We proclaim His words through our actions. In everything we say and do, we adopt God’s standards and not ours. Fr. Benny Tuazon
---------- REFLECTION QUESTION -----------
How do you contribute in the proclamation of the Good News in today’s world?
Lord, make me bold enough to proclaim Your Word in season and out of season. Amen.
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