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Gospel Reading for September 15, 2024 – Mark 8: 27-35
TRULY AWESOME
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.”
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Jesus is really the teacher PAR EXCELLENCE. Even before carrying his cross in Calvary, he was teaching them self-denial by taking up our cross. While he was preparing himself for his death on the cross, he was preparing his followers too, so that when it finally happens to him, his teaching would have sank in, and so much so after he goes back to the Father, the cross would already be a SYMBOL OF CHRISTIANITY. He did the same thing at the Last Supper when he gave himself as bread and wine, he was preparing the apostles for the institution of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
Jesus’ way of teaching is TRULY AWESOME because he teaches a lot through parables. Instead of giving us his teaching straight, he makes his teaching sink in, in our minds and in our hearts. He teaches a lot by example, especially his teaching about Compassion and Forgiveness. Well, who can be a better teacher than the Son of God himself! So, if we wish to TRULY LIVE our lives, there is no better teacher than Jesus!
Lord Jesus, may we learn your ways and keep your Word in our hearts!
