Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Twenty Second Sunday of the Year, A – September 2, 2017

Readings: Jeremiah 20:7-9; Responsorial Psalm Ps 62:2-6,8-9; 

Rom 12:1-2 & Gospel Matthew 16:21-27.

Theme: The Scandal of a Cross-less Christianity! 

Introduction

Friends in Christ, today in our gospel reading (Matthew 16:21-27), Jesus addresses one of the greatest scandals of the Christian faith namely, Christianity of the Cross. Particularly part of the reading states: “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, le him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Incidentally, in the first reading (Jeremiah 20:7-9), Jesus is foreshadowed as the suffering servant who allows himself to be seduced, overpowered, insulted, derided and imprisoned in his bones. Therefore, it is it crucial to investigative the initial discussion that ensued between Jesus and Peter which necessitated the assertion about renunciation and taking up one’s cross as a criteria for true discipleship. We achieve this, we shall assess this reflection through Jesus’ seeming scandal, his mission and the pastoral implications of preaching a Cross-less Christianity   

Jesus’ Seeming Scandal 

Jesus had made it clear to the apostles that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders, chief priests and scribes, be put to death and be raised on the last day. Like the other apostles, Peter could not understand why he who walked on water, cured the sick and even raised the dead to life would walk sheepishly into the hands of his enemies and be killed.

More so, Peter may have thought, did Jesus forget that he is supposed to be the Messiah from the Davidic dynasty who would crush their enemies permanently and establish his reign on earth? The utterance of Jesus was a scandal to them. Since Peter was the leader of the college of apostles, it was necessary that an elder address the mess of a fellow elder in private so that further scandal is not given in public. That is why we are not surprised that Peter took Jesus aside and started to remonstrate with him.

On the one hand, Peter didn’t want Jesus to scandalize the other apostles and those he was addressing - on the other hand, he wanted to be sure that Jesus knew what he was saying – it was much like, are you hearing yourself? Are you sure you’re not out of your mind? Perhaps that was why he said: “Heaven preserve you, Lord – this must not happen to you.” Well, to clear his doubts, Jesus surprised Peter by saying: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.” Why did Jesus speak the way he did? Well, we shall discover soon.

Jesus’ Mission: A Sweet Scandal

Dearly beloved in Christ, our reflection would not be complete if we don’t consider carefully “my path” which Jesus spoke about – that is, his life, mission, passion and resurrection. It is important to note that Jesus was talking about his passion which his apostles didn’t clearly understand at that time. We shall attempt a contrast between the apostles’ human agenda and Jesus’ divine agenda:

1. While they were thinking that their master would establish an earthly kingdom (Luke 1:32,33) of power where they would like the sons of Zebedee be on the right side and the left side of Jesus (Mark 10:35), Jesus came to establish a heavenly kingdom (Luke 1:28-33).

2. While they were concerned about greatness and being served (Matthew 18:1), Jesus insisted that he came to serve, not to be served and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 16:27).

3. While the apostles sort to crush their enemies (John 18:10), Jesus forgave limitlessly and revealed the father’s divine countenance towards humanity (Matthew 18:21-22).

4. While the elders, chief priests and scribes were planning to have him hanged (Matthew 26:3-4), Jesus was planning to take away the sins of the world (1 John 3:5).

5. While the apostles were seemingly thinking of saving money for the poor in the case of Judas Iscariot (Jon 12:6), Jesus praises Mary for preparing him for his passion (Luke 7:44-46).

6. While they were thinking of saving life (Matthew 16:22), Jesus empathically states that he who saves his life would lose it (John 12:25).

7. While the apostles were concerned about gaining the whole world (Luke 9:46), Jesus scandalizes them with: “What would profit a man if he wins the whole world at the expense of his life?” (Matthew 16:26).

8. While they thought about conquest through violence (Luke 22:36-38), Jesus took to conquest through defeat on the cross (1 Peter 2:24).

9. While they demanded immediate reward (Matthew 19:27), Jesus points to the prize of eternal life in heaven (Matthew 19:28-29).  

As such, this contrast gives us a clear understanding that Jesus and his apostles were at par as far as his mission was concerned. This has serious pastoral implications for us in contemporary times who are now aware of who Jesus is and what his mission demands yet pretend not to know.

Pastoral Implications of Preaching a Cross-less Christianity

Christianity has never been sugar-coated as it is in our age. Prosperity “gospellers” have shamelessly thrown away the cross such that what is now in vogue is a call by some pastors to churches where there is no suffering such as sickness, bad luck or even death. Unfortunately, in a country where the majority of the masses are wallowing in agonizing and shameful poverty, assaults of Boko Haram in the north or sleeping on bare ground in IDP camps, some men of God are smiling to the bank courtesy of the gullibility of our people.

Our liturgy reminds us that without the cross, there is no Christianity. Those who only preach that our God is a rich God without the corresponding theology of accepting suffering for the sake of Christ are much like Boko Haram who interpret the Holy Koran in an extremist fashion. Preaching a cross-less Christianity constitutes the height of naivety and extremism. We must realize that no amount of sugar-coating can reduce the worth of the gospel. Perhaps we need to be reminded that Christ started his life from the cradle of Bethlehem to the cross of Calvary.

It is instructive to note that Jesus was not rich - he borrowed a crib to be born, a donkey to ride on, a pulpit to preach on,  a boat to sail on, a house to stay, money to pay the customary tax, a home to eat the Passover and needed funding which was why Judas kept the money bag. His possession of a robe did not in any way prove that He was wealthy or flamboyant. However, Christianity does not preach that we should be mendicants or rag-tag-fellows but live according to our means in total surrender to God who supplies our needs according to his riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).

Homiletic Quotes to Remember

ü  Jesus addresses one of the greatest scandals of the Christian faith in our gospel reading (Matthew 16:21-27) which is, a Cross-less Christianity.

ü  Jesus and his apostles were at par as far as his mission was concerned.

ü  Christianity has never been sugar-coated as it is in our age.

ü  While the people of God are suffering, prosperity gospellers who sugar-coat the gospel are smiling to the bank.

ü  Those who preach a cross-less theology without the corresponding theology of accepting suffering for the sake of Christ are much like Boko Haram who interpret the Holy Koran in an extremist fashion.

ü  We need to be reminded that Christ started his life from the cradle of Bethlehem to the cross of Calvary.

ü  Offer up our bodies as a holy sacrifice pleasing to God (Rom 12:1-2).

Conclusion

On this Sunday, the Church reminds us that Christ lived simply, taught the apostles same and went through the Royal Road of the Cross our sake. In the second reading (Rom 12:1-2) St. Paul urges us to offer up our bodies as a holy sacrifice pleasing to God. This demands self-abnegation much like Jesus who renounced everything for our redemption. As such, we are called to embrace the daily challenges of our lives with the hope that things would be better if not here, in the world to come. It behoves pastors of souls who are exemplars of faith to point people to Christ and not to themselves and also preach Christ crucified. Have a fabulous week ahead!