Daily Word Of God
Matthew 16:21-25
Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to rebuke him. ‘Heaven preserve you, Lord,’ he said, ‘this must not happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because you are thinking not as God thinks but as human beings do.’
Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- In today’s Gospel, Jesus was prophesying to His disciples that He will face His trial, crucifixion and resurrection. However, they did not understand and Peter objected to what Jesus was saying.
- Jesus rebukes Peter and compared him to Satan who had tempted Him with all that the world has to offer. Jesus also wanted Peter to realize that His teachings and expectations are opposite to that of Satan’s.
- Jesus’ way of the Cross entails an unconditional love of total self-sacrifice. To what extent have I been able to follow Jesus’ selfless giving in my life?