THE COST OF FOLLOWING CHRIST
Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch Jeremiah 20:7-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27 There are times when doing the right thing is not the easiest thing. We may know what God asks of us, yet obedience can demand sacrifice, inconvenience, or even suffering. Today’s readings remind us that following Christ is not simply about receiving His blessings. It also means accepting the cost of discipleship. The Gospel continues from last Sunday’s great confession of Peter. After Peter acknowledges Jesus as the Christ, Jesus tells His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer greatly, be killed, and be raised on the third day. This is not what Peter expects to hear. He takes Jesus aside and says, “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” Peter loves Jesus, but he has not yet understood what kind of Messiah Jesus is. He expects glory without the cross, victory without suffering, and a crown without Calvary. Jesus therefore rebukes him strongly, s...
