Matthew 16:24-38

Deuteronomy 4:32-40

Psalm 77:12-13, 14-15, 16 and 21

Matthew 16:24-38

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 each according to his conduct.

Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here

who will not taste death

until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I desire to lose my life and die to myself to gain eternal life. I will put off my old self and put on my new self through your Son and in your Spirit. I offer you my life and my deeds, empowered by the grace of your Son.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Following Jesus: In the Gospel, Jesus has just rebuked Simon Peter for trying to tempt him from going to Jerusalem to suffer and be killed. Peter was thinking as human beings do and not as God does. Peter has just confessed that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God. However, when Jesus revealed to him that as the Messiah he must suffer and be killed, Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked him. Jesus turned and said to Peter: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men” (Matthew 16:23). Peter is the Rock when he listens to the voice of the Father, but he becomes a stumbling block when he listens to the lies of Satan. Jesus then tells his disciples that not only will he suffer on the Cross, but that they, as his followers, must also carry their own cross. The way of Christ leads to glory but passes through the Cross. If we renounce our cross and try to hold on to the passing things of this life, we risk losing the gift of eternal life.

2. The Son of Man will Repay Each: Throughout his Gospel, Matthew records Jesus’ teaching on poverty, detachment from earthly wealth, and storing up heavenly treasure: the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit (5:3); we are to lay up treasure in heaven and not here on earth (6:19-21); we are not to be anxious about our life, for our heavenly Father knows all that we need; we should seek first the kingdom and God's righteousness and all the things we need shall be ours (6:25-34); the one who loses his life on behalf of Jesus will find life (10:39); finally, the kingdom of heaven is worth selling all we possess in order to obtain it (13:44-45). Jesus turns the gaze of the Apostles, and our gaze, from the things of earth to the things of heaven. As we look toward heaven, we see that he is the Son of Man who comes with his angels in the glory of the Father. In fact, three of the Apostles will see the glory, dominion, and kingship of the Son of man in Jesus’ transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8).

3. The Book of Deuteronomy: For the next few days, the First Reading will be taken from the Book of Deuteronomy. This is the Fifth Book of the Bible and concludes the Torah, the teaching or Law of Moses. It takes the form of a last will and testament given by Moses on the Plains of Moab before his death. It is a covenant document that covers the history of the relationship between the Lord and his people. It outlines the Laws that will govern that relationship. It announces blessings for fidelity to the relationship and laws and curses for infidelity. Many of the Laws of Deuteronomy look forward to life in the Promised Land. Some of the Laws Moses gave in the Book of Deuteronomy – like the command to kill the Canaanites and the laws regulating divorce – were not good and awaited their correction and fulfillment by the Messiah, the New Moses. Instead of “utterly destroy your enemy,” Jesus will teach “love your enemy and pray for them.” Instead of permitting divorce like Moses, Jesus will teach about the indissolubility of marriage, the original covenant between man and woman, and the importance of lifelong fidelity.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, one day you will return to judge the world. I know that you will judge me at the moment of my death. As I contemplate that encounter, I ask you to enlighten my mind to know my faults, to move me to contrition and repentance, and to strengthen my will to resist temptation in the future.

Living the Word of God: Jesus comes in glory to repay each man according to his conduct. And so, the question put to us today is this: Am I greedily storing up treasure on earth for myself, or am I giving to the poor, serving my brothers and sisters, and storing up treasure in heaven? The first way, the way of pride and avarice, leads to death; the second way, the way of the cross and discipleship, leads to life.