Suffering Comes with the Role of Messiah

Homily for Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

The story we hear in the Gospel today is told in all three of the synoptic Gospels. Consequently, as we read each of the Gospels in the course of each liturgical year, we hear this episode frequently. Each evangelist uses the story to enhance the particular theme of his Gospel.

Gospel commentators have made the statement that the shadow of the cross hangs over every passage in Mark’s Gospel. That is certainly the case in this story. As soon as Peter identifies Jesus as the “Christ,” the anointed one, Jesus reminds them that being the Messiah means that he will die at the hands of evil men. As quickly as he had named Jesus the Messiah, Peter also jumps in and disagrees with the notion that God’s Messiah would suffer at the hands of evil human beings. It is because of this that Jesus utters that terrible rebuke, “Get behind me, Satan.”

Though St. Matthew has used this story to identify Peter as the rock upon which Jesus will build, St. Mark does not confer any leadership role on Peter. Instead, he is relegated to being a follower. That is why Jesus tells him to get behind him. He will lead them to Jerusalem. He is the one who will choose the path.

The cross has become an important symbol of the Christian way of life. Whether it is plated in gold and adorned with precious stones or whether it is two rough beams of wood placed together, it stands as the gate to life with God. It has a vertical beam which points us toward heaven, and it has a horizontal beam which stretches to include all of humankind within its embrace.

St. James recognizes that horizontal beam as he reminds his community that everyone is welcome in their midst, rich and poor alike.

Like so many before us, we all fall within the embrace of the cross. As Franciscans, we tighten our grip on this instrument of torture which has become for us a veritable symbol of love.