22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Click here to view the Sunday readings: http://www.usccb.org/nab/083108.shtml.

Once again the readings present us with a coherent theme that runs throughout salvation history. That theme can be summed up in two words: overturning expectations.

In the first reading Jeremiah is reflecting upon his call to be a prophet. Jeremiah initially thought that this calling would be great. He would proclaim God’s word and people would automatically convert, sin would cease, and God would bless him abundantly. Instead, Jeremiah faced persecution, harsh treatment, rejection, and ultimately he will die for being a prophet. Needless to say, the reality of following God became very different from the preconceived notions Jeremiah had in his mind about following God. His initial reaction is to reject that call and preach the word of God no longer, but the prophet then realizes that approach would not do. Once you hear the voice of God in your life, there is no returning to your former way of life. That is the message and prayer of the responsorial psalm.

St. Paul reiterates that same point when he encourages the Romans to reject the message of the present age and to discern the will of God. Discerning the will of God is hard only because we do not want to do it. It is much easier for us to follow the voices of the world, and certainly that is what our body wants us to do. Knowing God’s will is not hard, though. We find it throughout scripture, in the lives of the saints, in the teaching of the Church, and it is found within our hearts and souls. Knowing the will of God is not hard, but doing the will of God is another matter.

Peter found it especially difficult to accept the will of God in the matter of Jesus’ death. Remember that last week Peter was praised by Jesus for his response of faith and then given authority to govern the Church of Christ. Yet, Peter finds it difficult to accept the fact that Jesus’ identity as the messiah is about suffering to save us. That goes against Peter’s expectation – and that of most Jews of the day – that the messiah would be a great political leader who would throw out the foreign oppressors, re-establish the kingship and priesthood of Israel, and usher in an era of peace. However, Jesus presents us with the reality of discipleship: it will involve denial of ourselves and the world in imitation of Jesus, who will die to save us from sin.

The ultimate question for us is not ‘What is God’s will for me?” We already know the answer to that question. The real question is “Will I follow God’s will?” Through the examples and teaching of this week’s scripture and in the example of Jesus’ life, may we come to accept the will of God and carry it out in our lives.