On this Sunday, our lectionary pairs the Hebrew Scripture from Jeremiah 20:7-9 with Matthew 16:21-27. Both Jeremiah (unwillingly) and Jesus (with devoted willingness) had accepted a mission or vocation from God that would bring them suffering. In last week’s passage from Matthew, an enthusiastic and inspired Peter proclaimed that he understood that Jesus was the Messiah. But this week, when Peter hears that Jesus’ mission would entail suffering and death, Peter responds, “No way, Lord!” Suffering, however, goes with any commitment. We recognize that when annually we recognize heroes in various ways, people who put their own comfort, safety, and very lives aside to serve a higher purpose than the self. But there are many other less dramatic examples of the connection between embracing a mission or commitment and suffering. Having children is a commitment to humanity itself, one that limits the freedom and resources of the parents, and often brings other suffering into their lives. Another example is men and women who choose a commitment to things that serve the common good — like teaching, caring for our elderly, caring for our green spaces, and many other occupations from which they will never get rich but from which we all benefit. As fully human, Jesus walked the way of commitment and asked his disciples to walk it with him. That entails moral courage and purposeful suffering. “Thank you for your service,” we say wholeheartedly to those who are or have served in our military. As we gather this Sunday at Eucharist, may we offer that “thank you for your service” prayer for all the unsung heroes we know, people who have borne suffering from the commitments they have made for the good of us all.
— Blog entry by Sister Mary Garascia
The post August 30, 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Heroes: a Sunday Scriptures blog first appeared on Sisters of the Precious Blood.