Summary: Anyone who has ever stood up in the face of injustice or evil knows only too well the risk involved. The powers of this world are formidable and not easily intimidated. Anyone in the military knows that if you speak up when a superior is doing something wrong, you’ll pay for it. Women in the workplace know that if they stand up against sexism and harrassment they will probably end up out of work. The examples are as numerous as one’s experience and imagination. Jesus knew this too. Speak out or stand up against the Romans, or their collaborators within Israel, and there would be dangerous trouble. It did not require some kind of extraordinary insight to know that if he kept on with his mission he was going to pay for it, and everyone knew how the Romans handeled anyone who upset things or challenged their imposed status-quo. So did Peter, and so he puts himself in opposition to what Jesus perceives to be the Will of God, and he gets called out for it. Jesus has taught them how to pray for the coming of God’s Kingdom on EARTH as well as in Heaven. This is politically, socially, and religiously dangerous. He has taught them out pray, how to act, and now he proposes how to think. A new way of thinking is what Jesus proposes. It is a way of thinking that puts God’s will first no matter what the consequences, no matter who objects, or what the danger may be. This way of thinking goes against this world’s way of thinking. People who have internalized this world’s thinking must learn to deny themselves, meaning deny this way of thinking if they are going to follow Jesus. People who think like this world avoid suffering at all cost. They seek pleasure and comfort, security and power. These thoughts have to be replaced by a different way of thinking. Disciples of Jesus cannot just reluctantly take a slap or two along the way, they must lean into this, or take up the cross not simply have it put on them. They have to go for it with full knowledge that this is the way into the depth and richness of real life. What is coming to birth in Peter and his companions which must include you and me is a deeper, divine life that is far better than the shallow, superficial, temporary life this world of preseige, security, and social position has to offer. This earthly world is a poor substitute and a lot less than what Jesus Christ has to offer. This following Jesus means sacrifice and service based on a hierarchy of values that will not tolerate trade offs for anyting less than nobility, grace, and the divine. History is full of noble people who have stood up and made a difference bearing witness to what they believe. They have lived a lonely life of confrontation and conflict with this world. They say things like: “I just could not let it go on.” or “I could not live with myself if I didn’t do something.” They all paid a great price because when it comes down to attacking and criticizing practices and behavior that are unjust, wrong, unfair, and contrary to the Kingdom of God, it gets bloody and tough. Point to financial abuse, and you’ll be out of work and money. Be clear about what Jesus is saying here. The only suffering Jesus is speaking about is the suffering that comes from embracing his way of life and mission. Any other suffering, especially suffering that comes from injustice is to be resisted and stopped. Self denial is not about giving up chocolate in Lent or any that shallow stuff. It is about a deliberate choice to loose ones self in Christ and take on Christ’s way of thinking and acting. It is about making Christ’s identity my own. This does not center on suffering, but on love expressed through service and bringing forth of life and joy and peace! The first level of this Gospel story is self evident. Standing in the heart of Roman territory and Herrod’s palace, Jesus talks about what is going to happen to him because of the way he has challenged the oppression and injustice of that rule. At the second level, Matthew’s church is under persecution at every turn because they have stood up against evil and power and authorities that have told them to be quiet and just blend in with the way things have always been. They have been expelled from synagogues and they were considered to be an illicit religion targeted by Roman oppressors as well as by some Jewish communities that blamed them for the troubles. So they tell this story. Today we tell it again because we hunger for a deeper more meaningful life that we have heard about in Jesus Christ. We live in a world that is shallow and selfish, powerful, unjust and abusive. To remain silent in the face of anything that is wrong because we are afriad of what it may cost us is to give that wrong an even stronger hold upon us. It will cost us our soul even if it saves our silly shallow lives. Sins of omission are killing us and trivilizing our faith more so than anything we are doing. There is a dangerous possibility in true discipleship that terrifies us, and we look for the easy way out, but that will not do for those who want to be and are called to greatness, holiness, and fullness of life. Today Jesus takes us aside like he did Peter to explain once more that a deeper and better life is possible and awaits us.
