22nd Ordinary Sunday                                                                         Matthew 16:21-27

The scriptures we hear today tell us that Christians are called to live their lives in a different way than those who have no faith, no hope and have laid down their lives unknowingly for the prince of this world, the father of lies.  We, on the other hand, have become disciples of the one who is the Christ and Savior of mankind. We are called to follow him by obeying his commandment of love. 

In our first reading the prophet Jeremiah, who is portrayed as a prototype of the suffering Christ. Jeremiah was sent by God to “tear up and to knock down, to destroy and to overthrow” (Jer 1:10) . His job was to keep the people faithful to God in the midst of political intrigue and backstabbing. The Jewish people considered him to be a traitor because the message from God told of the dreadful results that would follow their plan of revolt against the mighty power of the Babylonian Empire. 

Because of this message from God Jeremiah himself grows tired of these words of doom that he has been sent to speak to Israel. Therefore, he cries that he has been duped by the Lord. He has been deceived about his mission. We listen to this man wrestling with a power beyond him. Because he is a prophet of the Lord, he cries that God’s word, becomes like a fire burning in his heart so much so that he grows weary trying to hold it in — but  it was God’s word and it could not be suppressed, it had to be proclaimed.

In the second reading St. Paul tells his followers they must live differently than the Jews and the pagans and adopt an attitude of sacrifice in their worship of God. In order to do that they must reject the ways of the world around them and offer their bodies as a living sacrifice. 

In our gospel Jesus shocks all of us. Immediately following Peter’s dramatic confession of faith our Lord, like Jeremiah, must tell his apostles the ‘bad news’ of his coming passion and death. Peter and his brother apostles, in spite of all the Lord has taught them, were still waiting for Jesus to become their conquering hero Messiah. He who could walk on water, feed 5000 people from nothing, and raise the dead to new life. With this witness Peter cannot tolerate the idea of a suffering Messiah and he tells him so. Jesus then sternly rebukes him: “get behind me, Satan.” — this is the same temptation that Satan tried in the desert. But Jesus cannot be tempted to shrink from his mission which he is given by his Father.  After correcting Peter for trying to divert him from his way of the cross, Jesus declares three conditions for his disciples to follow: first, deny yourself; second, take up your cross and; third follow me. 

Jesus is preparing his apostles and all his followers for what he knew would be for them, a great test of faith. He also took this opportunity to explain to them what their attitude toward suffering and death should be. He explains that they should always be ready to accept sufferings and hardships in this life but not allow them to overcome our faith in him. All of us should know that this life is a period of the way of the cross which, like Jesus, prepares us for our resurrection.

To follow someone who asks us to “take up our cross” daily seems foolish. But in the words of Archbishop Fulton Sheen “to be a fool for Christ is the greatest compliment the world can give. You and I are in good company, because most of the saints embraced the cross of Christ and were considered fools for doing so.” 

Christians know that this life is a test which prepares us for the eternal reward which Christ has already won for us. Every disciple knows that one must endure certain hardships and sufferings in order to get to our reward. It is all part of life, part of the test. All this is necessary so that when we die and we meet with Christ face to face, we hope to hear the words, “well done, good and faithful servant, welcome to your reward.”

 © JOSEPH MEILINGER 2026