FIRST READING (The word of the Lord has brought me derision.)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah (20:7-9)

You duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped; you were too strong for me, and you triumphed. All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me.

Whenever I speak, I must cry out, violence and outrage is my message; the word of the Lord has brought me derision and reproach all the day.

I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9)

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. (Ps 63:2b)

O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. (R)

Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory, for your kindness is a greater good than life; my lips shall glorify you. (R)

Thus will I bless you while I live; lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name. As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied, and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. (R)

You are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me. (R)

SECOND READING (Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice.)

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans (12:1-2)

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Cf. Eph 1:17-18)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call. (R)

GOSPEL (Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself.)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (16:21-27)

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “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 will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.” —The Gospel of the Lord.

R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

“What does Fidelity cost me?”

Intro: In our Gospel today, Jesus continues where we left off last Sunday when he gives to Peter his Mission. Matthew then says, “Jesus began to teach his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly…”. Where last week, Peter’s impulsive response to the question, “Who do people say I am?” that led to his confession of faith is replaced by a strong admonition to Peter, “Get behind me Satan!”  These contrasting sides of Peter apparently take place within moments of each other. What happened? The Gospel will help us to see the answer to that question. It centers on the cost of faithfulness, of fidelity.

Homily

Who among us seeks opportunities to suffer? No normal person wants pain or suffering. We carry within us in innate force to run away from suffering, to avoid it at all costs. The real fear of contagion to a mysterious virus has kept us inside, avoiding each other, evading interaction and contact, which in its own twisted way is causing emotional, psychological and spiritual suffering in many. 

And then we hear the invitation of St. Paul in our 2nd reading, “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice!” These words seem to invite us to do something against our natural instincts of self-preservation. In times past, these words of St. Paul supported a spirituality that claimed that the more difficult or severe a form of physical deprivation, the greater would be the spiritual benefits for us. More recently, we have come to understand that such notions fail to grasp the goodness of the human body created by God which would explain a misunderstanding of St. Paul’s teaching. A closer reading to the text – taken with our first reading and the Gospel – demonstrates an invitation to us to respond joyfully to God’s invitation to intimacy regardless of the cost, and not simply reduced to embracing suffering itself.

The story from Jeremiah helps us understand this distinction. Jeremiah never wanted to be a prophet. If anything, he tried to run away. But in the end, he acquiesced only to find that his words – really God’s words spoken through him – were not heeded. And beyond this rejection, he was forced to suffer personal derision, mocking and humiliation, so burdensome that he wanted to reject God and his own call. But the WORD of God within him could not be so easily stifled. It continued to smolder and burn in the very depths of his soul and flared up again even after he resolved never to speak again. 

Jeremiah clearly did not seek suffering. But it was the price he was to pay for being faithful to his call and mission. He suffered because his own people had hardened hearts and they refused to accept God’s message. Fidelity to his call was met with persecution, and resistance to it resulted in interior affliction. 

In our Gospel passage, the disciples are called to follow Jesus. Like so many others who came to see Him, they were inflamed by his WORDS and captivated by the compassion seen in his miraculous powers. But here, Jesus gives them insight into what this discipleship will cost – on what it would truly mean to be a disciple. “Deny yourself; take up your cross and follow me.” Looking back at Jeremiah, the issue here is fidelity to one’s CALL, not suffering in itself. The disciples are told that if they want to follow Jesus, they must be willing to accept the same kind of rejection that Jesus himself would face, and pay the same price for fidelity to God. 

Peter’s wrongful enthusiasm to protect Christ shows his little he understood. His reaction is similar to the phrase, “Cutting one’s losses and run!” Jesus’ response to Peter whose the need for a firm commitment to the Mission God gives, no matter the personal cost. No obstacle can deter Christ – not even the sincere yet misguided concern of close friends.

The central message of these two readings helps us to better understand St. Paul’s admonition “to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice.” He was not advocating suffering for its own sake, but trying to teach us that suffering or sacrifice might be required of those who respond faithfully to the call to be disciples. Paul was very explicit in identifying the real cause of suffering. “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” He warned the early Christians to turn away from any social practices that were opposed to gospel values and to live disciplined lives. From he own experience, St. Paul clearly understood the anger that others could have against God’s WORD, as well as the inner struggle that personal reform – conforming ourselves to the CROSS OF CHRIST – could produce. For this reason, he admonished them, “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice.”

The suffering presented in these readings today should not surprise us because we know from our life experiences that sacrifice is often a price we have to pay for fidelity to our calling in life. Parents willingly sacrifice for their children. Those who work to improve society must depend on deep convictions of social justice and harmony to overcome the many obstacles they will face in bringing about a better world. This is true about any form of genuine commitment such as in a marriage, in a relationship, in a friendship, or fighting for a just cause. The commitment itself can make tremendous demands on us. 

One’s calling does not always come from the outside. Sometimes God plants a seed of desire within us to help others, and this burns deep in one’s heart. As we strive to respond faithfully to our calling, whatever that calling may be, Paul’s words take on a more profound meaning. “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing, and perfect.” And in that very moment, you come to understand the true cost of fidelity – and its reward. In that moment, you are ready to deny yourself, take up the cross and follow Christ, and through this action we truly find our life, find the meaning of our life.

Prayers

Celebrant: Through self-denial we take up the cross each day, walking in the footsteps of our master. Let us pray for other and so cast off selfishness which keeps us apart from God.

READER:  For our Holy Father and all Bishops and pastors who carry the cross of pastoral care and responsibility, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For the prophets of our own day, who – like Jeremiah – receive derision and reproach from the powerful, that they remain strong and persevere relying on God’s power within them, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For doubting or dry souls thirsting for God, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: That we may acknowledge the mysterious will of God especially in times of trouble, and may we always be generous towards others, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For the humility and grace to understand that God’s ways are not our ways, and the courage to seek out the values of Christ that are eternal, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD. 

READER: In thanksgiving for Sammy Yau for whom today’s Mass is offered, and for all those who have asked for our prayers and for our faithful departed and the bereaved who mourn for them, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

CELEBRANT: Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, receive the prayers of a pilgrim people, seeking to discover your will, by walking in the footsteps of your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. (all) AMEN.