Sunday Meditation: “But who do you say that I am?”

Jesus had finished his ministry in Galilee and now heads toward Jerusalem.  Still in the north, they stop on the way to Caesarea Philippi, a region which is associated with Roman Imperial power, and Jewish accommodation to Roman rule.  Ruler of Caesarea Philippi at the time was the son of King Herod the Great, Philip the Tetrarch.  So I think it is important to note that Jesus asks who people say He is here against the secular power and authority.

 

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."

 

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,

take up his cross, and follow me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for my sake

and that of the gospel will save it."

~Mk 8:27-35

I’ve been searching for new people to provide insight into the Gospel passages, and this homily by Fr. Stephen Koeth, C.S.C. I thought insightful and very passionate.  Fr. Stephan belongs to the Congregation of the Holy Cross, and he really explains the connection to the cross that is alluded to in the Gospel passage.  Here is Fr. Stephan’s homily.

I think we should also interpret this passage in light of yesterday’s feast day, The Exultation of the Holy Cross.  

Sunday Meditation: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself”

How appropriate is this song, “Take Up Your Cross” by John Michael Talbot.