Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Intention: That the darkness of stigma, exclusion, and marginalization might be dispelled by the light of understanding, acceptance, and respect that honors the dignity of every person.
Today’s Gospel | Mark 8:27-35
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.”
From the Sixteenth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Oh, what a thrill of joy you will have when you hear the voices of those whom you have led, as if by the hand, into heaven, who will say to you on the day of judgment as well as in heaven what the girl delivered from the devil by Saint Paul said to the Apostle and those who were with him: These men are servants of the great God who have proclaimed to us the way of salvation. Then they will represent the good you have done among them. Some will represent to Jesus Christ on the day of judgment the robe of innocence that you helped them keep in all its purity. Others who have committed sin and who with your help have washed away their sins in the blood of the Lamb will represent to him the trouble you took to lead them back on the path of salvation.
Prayer
Eternal Father, your Son showed us how you wait patiently for your people who have become lost in sinfulness to return to you. You never stop calling us to repentance and conversion. Fill us with the grace that we need to open our hearts and change our ways. Inspire us to turn again to you and to serve one another, always seeking to walk in your ways and embrace your saving love. We ask this of who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.