O God, open our hearts and minds
by the power of your Holy Spirit,
that as the Scriptures are read
and your Word is proclaimed,
we may hear what you are saying to us today. Amen.
Early in the reading we see back to back scenes with Peter and Jesus: one where Peter is praised and another where he is rebuked strongly. Following Christ means acknowledging him for who he is (the Christ, the Son of the living God – 16:16) and also understanding the necessity of bearing our cross (16:24-26). Between these two scenes we get 16:21 – Jesus beginning to explain that he will go to Jerusalem and be crucified and then be raised. This is a turning point in Matthew’s Gospel. Right after this comes the transfiguration, in part to prepare the disciples for what is coming.
There are certainly quite a few parables that deal with rejecting Jesus here.
There is a real sense that something earthshaking is coming, and indeed it is. We have been talking so much about covenants for the last 70 days, and now the new covenant is being established in Jesus’ own blood. This is a covenant we live daily and remember specifically the fourth Sunday of every month. Amazing!
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