Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk Twenty Second Sunday of the Year, A
– August 30, 2020
Readings: Jeremiah 20:7-9; Responsorial Psalm Ps 62:2-6,8-9; Rom 12:1-2 & Gospel Matthew 16:21-27.
Theme: A Cross-less Christianity?
Sunday Synopsis
The first reading foreshadows Christ the suffering servant who like the Prophet Jeremiah went to the slaughter house like an innocent lamb. In the second reading, St. Paul urges us to bear with the qualms of this life by offering our bodies as a living sacrifice pleasing to God. In the conversation between Jesus and Peter, the gospel reveals renunciation of oneself as well as taking up one’s cross to follow Jesus. In a tempting world of prosperity gospel and “easy does it” spirituality, we are challenged to hold our heads high through embracing Christianity of the Cross with apologies to anyone.
Introduction
Beloved in the Lord, our readings present us with Jesus’ seeming scandal of a Christianity of the Cross. In a society where posterity gospellers have filled the ears of the faithful with the “good news” that poverty is a cause and wealth, the sign of righteousness, this homily titled “A Cross-less Christianity?” invites us to reflect on Jesus’ mission in the light of the current realities that surround us in the society.
Background and Summary of the Readings
The first reading (Jeremiah 20:7-9) presents a foreshadowing of the suffering servant who allows himself to be seduced, overpowered, insulted, derided and imprisoned in his bones. The Prophet reveals his vulnerability for the sake of the good news. He suffers in silence like the innocent lamb that is taken to the slaughter house.
In the second reading (Rom 12:1-2), St. Paul urges us to offer our bodies as a holy sacrifice pleasing to God. This call is indicative of self-abnegation and renunciation for the sake of the kingdom.
The gospel (Matthew 16:21-27) which discloses the conversation that ensued between Jesus and Peter speaks to the heart of taking up one’s cross as a criterion for true discipleship. Therein, Jesus addressed one of the greatest scandals of the Christian faith namely, Christianity of the Cross by stating: “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, le him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Pastoral Lessons
1. Avoid Sugarcoating the Gospel: We are 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 readings caution Pastors of souls against sugar-coating the gospel through preaching prosperity which shamelessly throws away the cross in a way that sickness, misfortune or death are considered consequences of sin.
2. Correct Public Scandals Publicly: By challenging Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s,” Jesus urges ministers of the word and sacraments to as a matter of obligation correct public scandals which bother on faith and morals publicly so as to serve as a deterrent to others and preserve the faith.
3. Watch Your Human Agenda: Peter’s statement reveals the apostles’ human agenda: Establishing an earthly kingdom (Luke 1:32,33), being great (Matthew 18:1), crushing their enemies (John 18:10), conquest through violence (Luke 22:36-38), saving money for the poor (John 12:6), demanding for immediate reward (Matthew 19:27) and gaining the whole world (Luke 9:46). This challenges us to scan our human agenda on Jesus’ mission.
4. Practice Jesus’ Agenda: Jesus’ response to Peter demonstrates that: He came to establish a heavenly kingdom (Luke 1:28-33), serve and not to be served (Matthew 16:27), reveal the father’s countenance through limitless forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-22), lose his life for humanity (John 12:25), conquer on the Cross through defeat (1 Peter 2:24) and point to the prize of eternal life in heaven (Matthew 19:28-29). This invites us to subvert our various agendas heavenwards.
5. Shun Bigotry: By subscribing to a cross-less Christianity, those who 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 and are intolerant of theological diversity. We must refrain from preaching a cross-less Christianity because it is the height of naivety and extremism - After all, Christ started from the cradle of Bethlehem to the cross of Calvary.
6. Embrace Poverty of the Spirit: The gospel demands detachment from material wealth towards willingness to share the earth’s resources with those who are poor. We are urged us to embrace poverty of the spirit bearing in mind that Jesus 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 that was why Judas kept the money bag.
7. Pray for Persecuted Christians: Like the suffering servant who allowed himself to be seduced, overpowered, insulted, derided and imprisoned in his bones, before our very eyes, our children and fellow Christians like Leah Sharibu and others still at large are martyrs witnessing to the gospel of extraordinary courage and resilience. As a Church, we have a responsibility to pray for their release, eternal repose for those who have died and endurance for the pilgrim Church.
Summary Lines
1. The first reading presents a foreshadowing of the suffering servant.
2. In the second reading St. Paul urges us to offer up our bodies as a holy sacrifice pleasing to God.
3. The gospel discloses the conversation that ensued between Jesus and Peter.
4. This discussion necessitated the assertion about renunciation and taking up one’s cross as a criterion for true discipleship.
5. Therein, Jesus addresses one of the greatest scandals of the Christian faith namely, Christianity of the Cross.
Conclusion
We must not confuse the fact that Jesus possessed a robe with wealth or ostentation. Neither are we to conclude that the call to embrace the Christianity of the Cross translates to being mendicants. On the contrary, it is a call to live according to our means in total surrender to God who supplies our needs according to his riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). While we are called to offer our bodies as a holy sacrifice pleasing to God (Rom 12:1-2), pastors of souls should, as exemplars of faith, preach Christ crucified by direct the people to Christ and not themselves. As we journey through the Royal Road of the Cross, may the Holy Spirit help us to embrace the daily challenges of our lives with the hope that things would be better - if not here, in the next. Have a fabulous week ahead!
