Homily for 22nd Sunday Ordinary time Cycle A
Readings Jer 20:7-9, Rom 12:1-2, Mt 16:21-27
“Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me.” These are strong words from Jesus to Peter. Last Sunday we heard (Just a few verses earlier), Peter making the great confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Now the same Peter is being called a stumbling block!
Why? Peter wanted Jesus without the cross. He wanted the glory, but not the suffering, the crown, but not the sacrifice. And perhaps, if we are honest, we too sometimes can be like Peter. We too do not want to take the hard path but the easy one, that is what we look for.
Jesus says something even more challenging: “If anyone wants to become my follower, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Notice that Jesus does not say, “Take up someone else’s cross!” Or help someone to carry his or her cross. That would probably be easier! We are often experts at identifying the crosses other people carry or need to carry in their life. We can even give them detailed instructions how to go about them!
A man once complained to God, “Heavenly Father, I have so many problems. I wish I could exchange my cross for something that is easier or less heavy.” Then God allowed him to select the cross, the one which he would like to be carrying. He was led to a room where many crosses had been placed. He was allowed into the room, and he kept the cross he was carrying in one corner of the room and went around. “Choose whichever one you like,” he was told. After looking around, the man finally picked one. Then God smiled and said, “That is actually the cross you brought in with you!”
Our cross is not necessarily something dramatic or extra-ordinarily heavy. Sometimes it is caring for an elderly parent, forgiving someone who hurt us, remaining faithful in marriage, dealing patiently with a difficult person, accepting our limitations, persevering in prayer, serving when nobody notices, or doing the right thing when it costs us something.
The world tells us: “Make yourself comfortable. Avoid sacrifice. Do what feels good.” Jesus tells us: “Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.”
Christianity is not merely about believing in Jesus. It is about following Jesus. And following Jesus means allowing his values to shape our choices.
Jeremiah understood this cost. He says, “The word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long.” Yet he cannot walk away because God’s word burns within him.
There are moments when being faithful to the Lord will cost us popularity. There are moments when forgiveness will cost us pride. There are moments when generosity will cost us money. There are moments when truth will cost us convenience.
But Jesus gives us the great paradox: “Those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”
The cross is not for cross’ sake. The crosses that we carry make us stronger, and carrying them successfully leads us to eternal life.
So today, perhaps the question is not, “Lord, why have you given me this cross?” but rather, “Lord, how can I carry this cross with you?”
Because the cross we carry with Jesus never leads us to defeat – it carries us towards life and victory.
Fr Abraham Kunnatholy CMI is the Parish Priest of Corpus Christi Catholic Church Cranebrook.
