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Gospel Reading for September 25, 2026 – Luke 9: 18-22
PARADOX
Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
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Jesus was praying in solitude. What was his conversation with his Father? Why did he come up with such a question? Was he preparing himself for Calvary? Or was he trying to count how much time he had left?
Peter’s reply must have taken him by surprise, which is why Jesus rebuked him. It was not yet time.
Jesus is the Son of God and was sent to save humankind. A saviour is expected to be strong, powerful, and undefeatable. Yet the Saviour had to suffer and die at the hands of those he came to save.
God’s ways may be difficult for the human mind to comprehend because he is Perfect Love himself. Perhaps our own understanding and experience of love are so limited that, to us, it seems like such a PARADOX.
Still, we are deeply grateful to you, Lord Jesus, for all that you willingly went through at the hands of those you came to save. Help us remember that whenever we do something against your teachings, we also cause the suffering of others. Amen.
