of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2024 WEEK TWENTY FOUR – ORDINARY TIME

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2024 WEEK TWENTY FOUR – ORDINARY TIME

THE RISE AND FALL OF PETER (MK 8:27-33)

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, lift me up and I will be secure in your arms.

Imagination:

Picture Jesus with his apostles.

Context:

This text is central to Mark’s gospel (exactly the midpoint) and contains the two themes of the gospel.  For many chapters, the people have been wondering, “Who is this Jesus”.  Peter answers that Jesus is the Messiah (Theme one).  Then Jesus predicts his suffering and shows that he will be a suffering Messiah (Theme two).  Later, Peter uses his human intellect and fails miserably.

Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud.)

Thoughts: (Read all. Ponder those that attract you.)

  1. The people’s opinions about Jesus are confused. They are the same ideas which King Herod had.
  2. Jesus asks for the disciples’ opinion.
  3. Peter’s response is true.  He has seen clearly that Jesus is the Messiah.
  4. Quickly, Jesus tells his disciples that he will be a suffering Messiah.
  5. Peter responds in an all too human way.  He refuses to accept a Messiah who must suffer.
  6. He has become a Satan, an obstacle, a stumbling block to the others.
  7. So Jesus must publicly reprimand him for using his limited intellect to grasp God’s plan.

Affections: (When one touches your heart, use your own words.)

  • O Jesus, the world is so confused and refuses to acknowledge you.
  • You are deeply interested in what I think about you.
  • You are deeply interested in my opinion about you.
  • For me, You are the messiah, the Christ, the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer.
  • You are a suffering Messiah and I need faith to follow you.
  • Shatter my human thinking.  Destroy the limits that I would put upon you.
  • “Come” you say.  “Let us walk together to Calvary”. I am coming, Jesus.

Resolutions: (Possibly you might want to make your own.)

+ Today, I will pray often, “Jesus, you are my Messiah.”

+ I will ponder this mystery.

Thought for the Day: (To recall your meditation.)