Homily (Reflection) for Thursday of the Sixth Week in
Ordinary Time (I) (16th February, 2017) on the Gospel
Gen 9:1-13;
Ps 101:16-21.29.22-23. (R. v.20);
Mk 8:27-33.
Topic: Illusions about Jesus.
Jesus first asked His disciples in today’s gospel, “Who do
people say that I am?” They thought He was John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the
prophets. He then asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered,
“You are the Messiah.” When Jesus foretold what was waiting for Him –
suffering, rejection, and death, Peter took Him aside and rebuked Him. However,
Jesus rebuked Peter saying, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your
mind not on divine things but on human things.”
Two illusions about Jesus Christ are apparent in today’s
gospel. First, the people were not able to recognise Jesus. Again, Peter who
declared correctly that He was the Messiah did not understand His kind of
Messiahship. Hence, when Jesus foretold what He was to undergo he rebuked Him. The
illusion about the kind of Messiah Jesus is subsisted beyond His death and resurrection,
cf. Acts 1:6. Needless to say that it
is still found today among His followers (Christians).
We know a lot about Jesus Christ. However, just like in Peter’s
case, many have not been able to grasp what these things really mean. Hence, many
illusions continue to exist. Illusions about Jesus Christ give birth to illusions
about what it means to be Christ’s follower. For instance, we tend to forget His
warnings about what awaits us, cf. Matt
10:18; Mk 13:9. However, those who sincerely follow Jesus have nothing at stake,
cf. Matt 10:39. 16:25; Mk 8:35. 10:29-30;
Lk 9:24. Let us therefore sincerely set our minds on divine things which are
incomparable, cf. 1Cor 2:9.
Bible Reading: Acts
1:6-11.
Thought for today: Where is your mind?
Let us pray: Lord, give us the grace to set our
minds always on divine things – Amen.
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