No mother could snatch her child from a burning building more swiftly than God is constrained to succor a penitent soul, even though it should have committed every sin in the world a thousand times over.
- Blessed Henry Suso (What do you need to confess to God? Be assured of God's acceptance and forgiveness.) |
Gn 9:1-13; Ps 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23 Mk 8:27-33 Jesus and his disciples set out
for the villages of Caesarea Philippi.
Along the way he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that I am?”
They said in reply,
“John the Baptist,
others Elijah,
still others one of the prophets.”
And he asked them,
“But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said to him in reply,
“You are the Christ.”
Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.
He began to teach them
that the Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed, and rise after three days.
He spoke this openly.
Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples,
rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Reflection on the Scriptures
As I read today’s gospel from Mark, I am flooded with memories of the love,
respect and trust my parents showed me. Jesus asks the disciples “Who do people say I am?” and follows up with “Who do you say I am?” Jesus then goes on to teach the disciples what to expect in the future: “that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days.” This is the first time the disciples had heard this information, and they must have found it very difficult to understand what
Jesus was teaching them. Although Jesus’ response to Peter sounds harsh, it is his love for the group that motivates him to make sure they can begin to process the true meaning of his words. Jesus also asked the disciples to not tell people about him. Delivering challenging information in a direct and caring manner can be a beautiful way to show respect for another person. This is also a way to build and strengthen trust. How we receive difficult information also requires trust in ourselves and the other person. Today I pray with gratitude for my parents for giving me a strong foundation and for the love, respect and trust they showed me. I pray in the times I need to share difficult information for the grace to be attentive to the needs of others. I ask God to help me look for ways to invite others into sharing a new perspective and to be open to the lessons through the teachings of Jesus. by Mary Lee Brock
The Existence of God by Francois Fenelon SECTION XXXVI
- Of the inward parts
I own that the inward parts are not so agreeable to the sight as the outward; but then be pleased to observe they are not made to be seen. Nay, it was necessary according to art and design
that they should not be discovered without horror, and that a man should not without violent reluctance go about to discover them by cutting open this machine in another man. It is this very horror that prepares compassion and humanity in the hearts of men when one sees another wounded or hurt. Add to this, with St. Austin, that there are in those inward parts a proportion, order, and mechanism which still please more an attentive, inquisitive mind than external beauty can please the eyes
of the body. That inside of man--which is at once so ghastly and horrid and so wonderful and admirable--is exactly as it should be to denote dirt and clay wrought by a Divine hand, for we find in it both the frailty of the creature and the art of the Creator.
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