Our readings today would have us not only think as God thinks, but act as God acts, as well.
In the gospel passage Jesus rebukes Peter for trying to trip him up – to derail him from his primary purpose in coming to earth. Peter is attempting to steer Jesus away from his Passion and Cross - (after all he is "the Christ" – may he be spared of such tragedy) – in very much the same way that the devil did to him when he was in the desert! But Jesus would not be derailed – Jesus would not be deterred – Jesus is more resolute than ever to do his duty – to redeem mankind by his Passion, Death and Resurrection!
"Get behind me, Satan!" he says to Peter – as he said the same thing directly to Satan just before his public ministry began!
In the first reading we see how the disciples of Jesus must also act as Jesus did – resolutely, and determinedly to welcome everyone as, either, brothers and sisters in a common family of adopted children of God – or potential, or even wayward members of the same family!
Jesus would have us think as God
thinks in the gospel passage; and he wants us to act as God would act in the second reading: looking on the rich and the poor exactly the same way! Welcoming and pampering and showing kindness, gentleness and courtesy to both: treating them both as if they were Christ himself. For he says: on the Last Day the only really important question that I will ask you is "did you treat everyone as if they were me?" because I am them!
Let us get our thinking and motivation straight and in line with God's will and God's way today – then the full effects of the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Spirit upon the Church will be ours – and we will experience even here, now, life as it is in the kingdom – life that someday will last forever and ever!
The Lord hears the cry of the poor!
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