Take up your cross.

 In this 

In this weeks Gospel Matthew 16:21-27

Jesus explains to his disciples  and followers that he will be killed in Jerusalem only to rise again on the third day.  Jesus was preparing his disciples for what was to come. Peter was so upset hearing that Jesus was going to die.  It was just too much for him to believe that Jesus that he loved so much was going to die.  Peter looked at Jesus and said "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."  

 Before we go any further into the gospel let’s consider how we tend to do exactly what Peter did.  When you get some unwanted and unexpected news what happens to you? Who do you become? What thoughts do you have?  Do you act or think like God or do you become very human?   When life gets heavy do you forget all that you know about  Jesus and salvation? Jesus’s response was a call for Peter to remember who he was.  

Jesus then explains what it truly means to be disciple.  Being a disciple is about letting go of your selfish desires and having Jesus at the center. It’s about trusting Jesus with all your heart. He says "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”  That had to be hard to hear the first time.  Take up your cross and follow  the Jesus that just said he was going be killed.  Yet, they followed.  Jesus also said “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life”  I believe that this is when the disciples started to get an idea of what It meant to be a follower of Christ. It meant that your desires and wishes went on the back burner for the lord. God is asking for all of us to make him number one in our lives.  You are called to look past the material possessions and look directly at God.  

This weeks reading moved me because I was able to relate to how disappointed and upset Peter was. His reaction to bad news was terribly “human”. Jesus didn’t waiver. He continued to make sure his disciples understood that the dress rehearsal was over.  This is what it means to be  real Christian. You don’t get to do what you want. You answer to a higher power. You answer to God. How many of us start the day with prayer but by noon we “forget” what we signed up for.  The cross is our reminder that Jesus came and died for us and our sins. We have a responsibility to remember. We have a responsibility to live a life that isn’t about all we can get and do.  It’s more about what we can do for others and how we can be a Christian that puts Jesus first. 

     In this weeks Gospel Matthew 16:21-27

Jesus explains to his disciples and followers that he will be killed in Jerusalem only to rise again on the third day. Jesus was preparing his disciples for what was to come. Peter was so upset hearing that Jesus was going to die. It was just too much for him to believe that Jesus that he loved so much was going to die. Peter looked at Jesus and said "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

Before we go any further into the gospel let’s consider how we tend to do exactly what Peter did. When you get some unwanted and unexpected news what happens to you? Who do you become? What thoughts do you have? Do you act or think like God or do you become very human? When life gets heavy do you forget all that you know about Jesus and salvation? Jesus’s response was a call for Peter to remember who he was.

Jesus then explains what it means to be a disciple. Being a disciple is about letting go of your selfish desires and having Jesus at the center. It’s about trusting Jesus with all your heart. He says "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” That had to be hard to hear the first time. Take up your cross and follow the Jesus that just said he was going to be killed. Yet, they followed. Jesus also said “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life” I believe that this is when the disciples started to get an idea of what It meant to be a follower of Christ. It meant that your desires and wishes went on the back burner for the lord. God is asking for all of us to make him number one in. You are called to look past the material possessions and look directly at God. This week's reading moved me because I was able to relate to how disappointed and upset Peter was. His reaction to bad news was terribly “human”. Jesus didn’t waiver. He continued to make sure his disciples understood that the dress rehearsal was over. This is what it means to be a real Christian. You don’t get to do what you want. You answer to a higher power. You answer to God. How many of us start the day with prayer but by noon we “forget” . We have a responsibility to live a life that isn’t about all we can get and do. It’s more about what we can do for others and how we can be Christian that puts Jesus first.

 weeks Gospel Matthew 16:21-27

Jesus explains to his disciples and followers that he will be killed in Jerusalem only to rise again on the third day. Jesus was preparing his disciples for what was to come. Peter was so upset hearing that Jesus was going to die. It was just too much for him to believe that Jesus that he loved so much was going to die. Peter looked at Jesus and said "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

Before we go any further into the gospel let’s consider how we tend to do exactly what Peter did. When you get some unwanted and unexpected news what happens to you? Who do you become? What thoughts do you have? Do you act or think like God or do you become very human? When life gets heavy do you forget all that you know about Jesus and salvation? Jesus’s response was a call for Peter to remember who he was.

Jesus then explains what it means to be a disciple. Being a disciple is about letting go of your selfish desires and having Jesus at the center. It’s about trusting Jesus with all your heart. He says "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” That had to be hard to hear the first time. Take up your cross and follow the Jesus that just said he was going to be killed. Yet, they followed. Jesus also said “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life” I believe that this is when the disciples started to get an idea of what It meant to be a follower of Christ. It meant that your desires and wishes went on the back burner for the lord. God is asking for all of us to make him number one in. You are called to look past the material possessions and look directly at God. This week's reading moved me because I was able to relate to how disappointed and upset Peter was. His reaction to bad news was terribly “human”. Jesus didn’t waiver. He continued to make sure his disciples understood that the dress rehearsal was over. This is what it means to be a real Christian. You don’t get to do what you want. You answer to a higher power. You answer to God. How many of us start the day with prayer but by noon we “forget” what we signed up for. The cross is our reminder that Jesus came and died for us and our sins. We have a responsibility to remember. We have a responsibility to live a life that isn’t about all we can get and do. It’s more about what we can do for others and how we can be Christian that puts Jesus first.