Rebuke
Mark 8:31-38 Communion Meditation, 2nd Sunday in Lent
“Facing Christ When We are Without Excuse”
I heard a story this week about that the current Cardinal of New York shared . He was talking with some of the seminarians from time to time about things he had seen or others had seen. in their behavior. When he called to talk with them he said that nine out of ten had not listened to his concerns but tried to justify their actions. There was one though who listened and was the better for it.
When Peter spoke glowingly of Jesus as the “ Christ” there was no rebuke. But when Jesus spoke of what was coming, the Cross, death and rejection, Peter began to rebuke Jesus. Here now there was a rebuke for Peter, “ Get behind me Satan, for you savor not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.” One of the commentators said that not even such a rebuke Jesus gave to the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. We are not told here that Peter got it. But if we read the rest of the New Testament we know that Peter did get it and became one of the most devoted single followers and leaders of the disciples.
How do we react when we are on the wrong spiritual track and someone who cares for us points it out to us? There is the story of the preacher who had a parishioner who sat in the first few pews and this particular saint used to make remarks under the breath during the sermons and have quite a lot of criticism for the preacher. At the funeral everyone was amazed that of the all the mourners the minister seemed to take it the hardest. He said that of all the people this person helped him grow the most and who was going to take her place now that she was gone?
In this season of Lent as the days grow longer and our Lord is going to the shame and rejection He did not deserve we are to find time to listen to Christ as well. This may take the form of giving up something for Lent. Someone asked me that the other day,” Do you give up something for Lent?” I think I said no because if it is bad for you why do it all? At least I was thinking that. I did say usually I try and add something as a spiritual practice such as a devotional series or meditation on a certain book that is written for this purpose , but find I put it aside after a few days without much Lenten success. Hopefully this year is somewhat different in my practice.
Jesus said Peter was not doing what God wanted him to do. He was putting the emphasis in the wrong place. He did not see what was coming. He thought Jesus did not have to do such things like go to the Cross . But this is not only what Jesus had to do for us we are told but we too are “come after (Jesus), take up (our) cross, and follow (him.)” 8:34 Because really as Jesus says later in vs. 36, “ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” I am happy that Jesus rebuked Peter but he did not reject him.
This seems to be one of the most difficult areas of Scripture. What is our cross? How do we lose our lives for Jesus’ sake and the gospel’s sake so that in the end we shall save our lives? We can be confident that we too are much like Peter in our misunderstandings and shortsighted ways about the paths of the true kingdom of God. We too find that it is so hard to know ,”just what is the cross?” and “ how can we savor the things of God and not the things of men?”
I think we need such time to be alone with the Scriptures and perhaps a few good books that help us. We may use a book of prayers to set us on the right pathway. We may need to get back to some old fashioned praying that finds us on our knees and saying ,” From all evil and mischief; from sin; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation, Good Lord, deliver us.” ( Litany- Church of England) The devil is sly. He disguises what is true and right way and often comes as an angel of light it says in the Scripture. What looks so good turns out to be another wrong turn in our spiritual lives. Take a shortcut . Or why even bother with all that talk about losing your life for Jesus’ sake so that What looks so good turns out to be another wrong turn in our spiritual lives. Take a shortcut . Or why even bother with all that talk about losing your life for Jesus’ sake so that you can find it?
Some people and traditions do not much like Lent. They think it is too much like the Catholic church . I find it has much opportunity for spiritual growth and closeness to Christ. There is that old hymn we used to sing, “ May I see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly and be closer to thee nearly.” How to be there? For in journeying with Jesus to the cross I am finding something about His sacrifice and my own spiritual life.
We have an a wonderful opportunity to be on this trip with Jesus to the cross. In Holy Communion I taste and see things unseen. “ Here O My Lord I see Thee face to face” What a great hymn about the Sacrament. Rejoicing now , losing our lives now, taking up our crosses now, we are following our Lord on that pathway of sacrifice. It is not easy to always know that path but if we take the moments of our lives whenever we can find them to ask for direction we will find it.
Standing Face to Face with Christ we are without excuse. There are no ways to get around it. I do not like to face Him when I am without excuse because I have none. I do not want to experience what Peter did at all. I want to hear that I savor the things of God and not the things of this world. So that is what really this time of faith is all about. I do not want Jesus to tell me, “ Get behind me Satan.” I want others and especially to know that His love is all that matters and though I do not have to ever earn it , I want Him to know that loving Him and following His ways now are really that matters to me now. I want others to know that too because in following Jesus I have all that I ever needed.
“Facing Christ When We are Without Excuse”
I heard a story this week about that the current Cardinal of New York shared . He was talking with some of the seminarians from time to time about things he had seen or others had seen. in their behavior. When he called to talk with them he said that nine out of ten had not listened to his concerns but tried to justify their actions. There was one though who listened and was the better for it.
When Peter spoke glowingly of Jesus as the “ Christ” there was no rebuke. But when Jesus spoke of what was coming, the Cross, death and rejection, Peter began to rebuke Jesus. Here now there was a rebuke for Peter, “ Get behind me Satan, for you savor not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.” One of the commentators said that not even such a rebuke Jesus gave to the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. We are not told here that Peter got it. But if we read the rest of the New Testament we know that Peter did get it and became one of the most devoted single followers and leaders of the disciples.
How do we react when we are on the wrong spiritual track and someone who cares for us points it out to us? There is the story of the preacher who had a parishioner who sat in the first few pews and this particular saint used to make remarks under the breath during the sermons and have quite a lot of criticism for the preacher. At the funeral everyone was amazed that of the all the mourners the minister seemed to take it the hardest. He said that of all the people this person helped him grow the most and who was going to take her place now that she was gone?
In this season of Lent as the days grow longer and our Lord is going to the shame and rejection He did not deserve we are to find time to listen to Christ as well. This may take the form of giving up something for Lent. Someone asked me that the other day,” Do you give up something for Lent?” I think I said no because if it is bad for you why do it all? At least I was thinking that. I did say usually I try and add something as a spiritual practice such as a devotional series or meditation on a certain book that is written for this purpose , but find I put it aside after a few days without much Lenten success. Hopefully this year is somewhat different in my practice.
Jesus said Peter was not doing what God wanted him to do. He was putting the emphasis in the wrong place. He did not see what was coming. He thought Jesus did not have to do such things like go to the Cross . But this is not only what Jesus had to do for us we are told but we too are “come after (Jesus), take up (our) cross, and follow (him.)” 8:34 Because really as Jesus says later in vs. 36, “ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” I am happy that Jesus rebuked Peter but he did not reject him.
This seems to be one of the most difficult areas of Scripture. What is our cross? How do we lose our lives for Jesus’ sake and the gospel’s sake so that in the end we shall save our lives? We can be confident that we too are much like Peter in our misunderstandings and shortsighted ways about the paths of the true kingdom of God. We too find that it is so hard to know ,”just what is the cross?” and “ how can we savor the things of God and not the things of men?”
I think we need such time to be alone with the Scriptures and perhaps a few good books that help us. We may use a book of prayers to set us on the right pathway. We may need to get back to some old fashioned praying that finds us on our knees and saying ,” From all evil and mischief; from sin; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation, Good Lord, deliver us.” ( Litany- Church of England) The devil is sly. He disguises what is true and right way and often comes as an angel of light it says in the Scripture. What looks so good turns out to be another wrong turn in our spiritual lives. Take a shortcut . Or why even bother with all that talk about losing your life for Jesus’ sake so that What looks so good turns out to be another wrong turn in our spiritual lives. Take a shortcut . Or why even bother with all that talk about losing your life for Jesus’ sake so that you can find it?
Some people and traditions do not much like Lent. They think it is too much like the Catholic church . I find it has much opportunity for spiritual growth and closeness to Christ. There is that old hymn we used to sing, “ May I see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly and be closer to thee nearly.” How to be there? For in journeying with Jesus to the cross I am finding something about His sacrifice and my own spiritual life.
We have an a wonderful opportunity to be on this trip with Jesus to the cross. In Holy Communion I taste and see things unseen. “ Here O My Lord I see Thee face to face” What a great hymn about the Sacrament. Rejoicing now , losing our lives now, taking up our crosses now, we are following our Lord on that pathway of sacrifice. It is not easy to always know that path but if we take the moments of our lives whenever we can find them to ask for direction we will find it.
Standing Face to Face with Christ we are without excuse. There are no ways to get around it. I do not like to face Him when I am without excuse because I have none. I do not want to experience what Peter did at all. I want to hear that I savor the things of God and not the things of this world. So that is what really this time of faith is all about. I do not want Jesus to tell me, “ Get behind me Satan.” I want others and especially to know that His love is all that matters and though I do not have to ever earn it , I want Him to know that loving Him and following His ways now are really that matters to me now. I want others to know that too because in following Jesus I have all that I ever needed.
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