Daily Readings - Sun Aug 30 2020

⁷"You have led me away, O Lord, and I have been led away. You have been stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a derision all day long; everyone mocks me⁸For I speak now as I have long spoken: crying out against iniquity and proclaiming devastation. And the word of the Lord has been made into a reproach against me and a derision, all day long⁹Then I said: I will not call him to mind, nor will I speak any longer in his name. And my heart became like a raging fire, enclosed within my bones. And I became weary of continuing to bear it

Romans

Chapter 12

¹And so, I beg you, brothers, by the mercy of God, that you offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, with the subservience of your mind²And do not choose to be conformed to this age, but instead choose to be reformed in the newness of your mind, so that you may demonstrate what is the will of God: what is good, and what is well-pleasing, and what is perfect

Matthew

Chapter 16

²¹From that time, Jesus began to reveal to his disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and to suffer much from the elders and the scribes and the leaders of the priests, and to be killed, and to rise again on the third day²²And Peter, taking him aside, began to rebuke him, saying, "Lord, may it be far from you; this shall not happen to you.²³And turning away, Jesus said to Peter: "Get behind me, Satan; you are an obstacle to me. For you are not behaving according to what is of God, but according to what is of men.²⁴Then Jesus said to his disciples: "If anyone is willing to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me²⁵For whoever would save his life, will lose it. But whoever will have lost his life for my sake, shall find it²⁶For how does it benefit a man, if he gains the whole world, yet truly suffers damage to his soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul²⁷For the Son of man will arrive in the glory of his Father, with his Angels. And then he will repay each one according to his works

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter profound reflections on faith, sacrifice, and the transformative power of living according to God’s will. The prophet Jeremiah expresses the anguish of being a vessel for God’s message, feeling mocked and derided, yet unable to contain the divine word burning within him. This speaks to the burden of faithfulness and the internal conflict of adhering to God’s call despite external opposition. The Gospel presents Jesus foreseeing His Passion and Peter’s resistance to this plan, leading to Jesus’ stern rebuke. This moment highlights the clash between human understanding and divine purpose. Jesus then teaches the disciples about the necessity of self-denial and carrying one’s cross, emphasizing that true life is found in losing oneself for His sake. This is not about seeking suffering, but about prioritizing spiritual life over worldly comforts. Paul’s letter to the Romans bridges these ideas, urging believers to offer their lives as living sacrifices, transformed by renewing their minds. This transformation enables us to discern and live according to God’s will, rejecting conformity to the world. The readings collectively invite us to embrace a life of faith and sacrifice, trusting in God’s plan even when it challenges our human instincts. Let us reflect on how we can align our lives with God’s will, embracing the cross with courage and hope, knowing that true fulfillment comes from following Him.