Discipleship is not just about following Jesus. There were many who followed him but were not his disciples. The disciple is first one who listens, learns and watches the Master. Second, he is the student of the Master. Until now the disciples have been listening, learning and watching what Jesus did. From now on however, they will decide whether they are “of Jesus”, that is, those belonging to him. And the criterion that Jesus puts before them is the criterion of the cross. “If any man would come after me,” Jesus says “let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me ”
Relevant Links
The Cross in the Early ChurchThe Disciple and the Cross of Christ
Sunday Thoughts: The Christian As Alter ChristusBeing An Alter Christus
Our Way of the Cross
Guide for Reading
- Compare Matthew 16:21-27 with Mark 8:31-38 and identify the places where Matthew introduced a modification. Make a list of these changes.
- Delineate the parts that make up Matthew 16:21-27. Which verses come together and form one idea? For example which clues do you find in the text that vv.24-27 represents a separate action from vv. 21-23?
- Do some study (get a concordance or a bible dictionary) on the following words:
- Satan
- stumbling-block (skandalon)
- Son of Man (and its logical opposite, Son of God)
- cross
- On the basis of the above study, figure out why
- Jesus calls Peter “Satan” and a “stumbling-block”
- The cross becomes a criterion for Christian discipleship (one’s discipleship will be judged according to one’s attitude towards the cross
- Son of God and Son of Man as applied to Jesus mean the same thing
- That Peter’s idea of “Son of the Living God” (cf. the previous episode of the Confession) is inadequate.
- Check the paragraphs in the Catholic Catechism for the relevant passages referred to in this section of Matthew:
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Comparing the Readings
The liturgy’s gospel selection is best explained in the light of the second reading (Romans 12:1-2):
I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.
Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect.
These verses, read with the understanding that in the gospel, Christ associates his disciples closely with his sacrifice on the cross, becomes a sort of commentary on Matthew 16:24-26. Suggestions on how this passage is understood within the context of a theology of the cross is offered by St. Augustine in his sermon 205.
Suggestion for the Lesson Plan
The theme of the cross of Christ affords one with the opportunity of explaining the following ideas:
- For the Christian, one’s suffering has infinite value because it can become redemptive when offered in union with the suffering of Christ. Here the words of Benedict XVI can offer us some hints:
There used to be a form of devotion—perhaps less practised today but quite widespread not long ago—that included the idea of “offering up” the minor daily hardships that continually strike at us like irritating “jabs”, thereby giving them a meaning. … What does it mean to offer something up? Those who did so were convinced that they could insert these little annoyances into Christ’s great “com-passion” so that they somehow became part of the treasury of compassion so greatly needed by the human race. In this way, even the small inconveniences of daily life could acquire meaning and contribute to the economy of good and of human love. Maybe we should consider whether it might be judicious to revive this practice ourselves. (Spe salvi, no. 40)
- An explanation of the baptismal rite for infants is not out of place here. The purpose is to remind the faithful of their being consecrated to God by the sign of the cross. That this consecration is renewed everytime we celebrate the Saturday Night Easter Vigil is also a good way of reminding the faithful that we make our own the invitation of Christ to carry the cross ritually so that we can realize it in our every day life.
- One can also offer an extended meditation on the gospel reading and the second reading from Romans 12, with another of Paul’s exhortations about the cross of Christ:
We know that our old self has been crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin (because anyone who has died has been freed from sin). (Romans 6:6-7)
21From that time Jesus began to shew to his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the ancients and scribes and chief priests, and be put to death, and the third day rise again.
22And Peter taking him, began to rebuke him, saying: Lord, be it far from thee, this shall not be unto thee.
23Who turning, said to Peter: Go behind me, Satan, thou art a scandal unto me: because thou savourest not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.
24Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.
26For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?
27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels: and then will he render to every man according to his works.
31And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the ancients and by the high priests, and the scribes, and be killed: and after three days rise again.
32And he spoke the word openly. And Peter taking him, began to rebuke him.
33Who turning about and seeing his disciples, threatened Peter, saying: Go behind me, Satan, because thou savorest not the things that are of God, but that are of men.
34And calling the multitude together with his disciples, he said to them: If any man will follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel, shall save it.
36For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?
37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38For he that shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation: the Son of man also will be ashamed of him, when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
21From that time Jesus began to shew to his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the ancients and scribes and chief priests, and be put to death, and the third day rise again.
22And Peter taking him, began to rebuke him, saying: Lord, be it far from thee, this shall not be unto thee.
23Who turning, said to Peter: Go behind me, Satan, thou art a scandal unto me: because thou savourest not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.
24Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.
26For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?
27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels: and then will he render to every man according to his works.
21From that time Jesus began to shew to his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the ancients and scribes and chief priests, and be put to death, and the third day rise again.
22And Peter taking him, began to rebuke him, saying: Lord, be it far from thee, this shall not be unto thee.
23Who turning, said to Peter: Go behind me, Satan, thou art a scandal unto me: because thou savourest not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.
24Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.
26For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?
27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels: and then will he render to every man according to his works.
21From that time Jesus began to shew to his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the ancients and scribes and chief priests, and be put to death, and the third day rise again.
22And Peter taking him, began to rebuke him, saying: Lord, be it far from thee, this shall not be unto thee.
23Who turning, said to Peter: Go behind me, Satan, thou art a scandal unto me: because thou savourest not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.
21From that time Jesus began to shew to his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the ancients and scribes and chief priests, and be put to death, and the third day rise again.
22And Peter taking him, began to rebuke him, saying: Lord, be it far from thee, this shall not be unto thee.
23Who turning, said to Peter: Go behind me, Satan, thou art a scandal unto me: because thou savourest not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.
24Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.
26For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?
25For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.
26For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?
1I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service.
2And be not conformed to this world; but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of God.
24Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.
26For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?
6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin may be destroyed, to the end that we may serve sin no longer.
7For he that is dead is justified from sin.
CCC 540,607
¶540 Jesus' temptation reveals the way in which the Son of God is Messiah, contrary to the way Satan proposes to him and the way men wish to attribute to him. This is why Christ vanquished the Tempter for us: "For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sinning." By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert.
¶607 The desire to embrace his Father's plan of redeeming love inspired Jesus' whole life, for his redemptive passion was the very reason for his Incarnation. And so he asked, "And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour." And again, "Shall I not drink the cup which the Father has given me?" From the cross, just before "It is finished", he said, "I thirst."
CCC 554
¶554 From the day Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Master "began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things. . . and be killed, and on the third day be raised." Peter scorns this prediction, nor do the others understand it any better than he. In this context the mysterious episode of Jesus' Transfiguration takes place on a high mountain, before three witnesses chosen by himself: Peter, James and John. Jesus' face and clothes become dazzling with light, and Moses and Elijah appear, speaking "of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem". A cloud covers him and a voice from heaven says: "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!"
CCC 555
¶555 For a moment Jesus discloses his divine glory, confirming Peter's confession. He also reveals that he will have to go by the way of the cross at Jerusalem in order to "enter into his glory". Moses and Elijah had seen God's glory on the Mountain; the Law and the Prophets had announced the Messiah's sufferings. Christ's Passion is the will of the Father: the Son acts as God's servant; the cloud indicates the presence of the Holy Spirit. "The whole Trinity appeared: the Father in the voice; the Son in the man; the Spirit in the shining cloud."
You were transfigured on the mountain, and your disciples, as much as they were capable of it, beheld your glory, O Christ our God, so that when they should see you crucified they would understand that your Passion was voluntary, and proclaim to the world that you truly are the splendor of the Father.
CCC 226,618
¶226 It means making good use of created things: faith in God, the only One, leads us to use everything that is not God only insofar as it brings us closer to him, and to detach ourselves from it insofar as it turns us away from him:
My Lord and my God, take from me everything that distances me from you. My Lord and my God, give me everything that brings me closer to you. My Lord and my God, detach me from myself to give my all to you.
¶618 The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the "one mediator between God and men". But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, "the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery" is offered to all men. He calls his disciples to "take up [their] cross and follow [him]", for "Christ also suffered for [us], leaving [us] an example so that [we] should follow in his steps." In fact Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries. This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.
Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.
CCC 2029
¶2029 "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mt 16:24).
CCC 363
¶363 In Sacred Scripture the term "soul" often refers to human life or the entire human person. But "soul" also refers to the innermost aspect of man, that which is of greatest value in him, that by which he is most especially in God's image: "soul" signifies the spiritual principle in man.
CCC 2232
¶2232 Family ties are important but not absolute. Just as the child grows to maturity and human and spiritual autonomy, so his unique vocation which comes from God asserts itself more clearly and forcefully. Parents should respect this call and encourage their children to follow it. They must be convinced that the first vocation of the Christian is to follow Jesus: "He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."
CCC 1021
¶1021 Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ. The New Testament speaks of judgment primarily in its aspect of the final encounter with Christ in his second coming, but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith. The parable of the poor man Lazarus and the words of Christ on the cross to the good thief, as well as other New Testament texts speak of a final destiny of the soul -- a destiny which can be different for some and for others.
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