The Story of Peter and Jesus continues. This reading is closely tied to last week’s Gospel lesson. In verse 16, Peter confessed his faith that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. Now Jesus shows him what messiahship and discipleship entail. “take up his cross, and follow me.” MT 16:24
The Gospel story shows that the primacy of Peter was not something that was invented by the church later on. It went right back to the beginning, yes, to the mind and will of Christ himself. The Story of Peter and Jesus. “…upon this rock I will build my church…”
In today’s gospel, we meet a pagan woman who had the most extraordinary faith in Jesus, a faith that was rewarded with the cure of her sick daughter.
“Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
“Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
“Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
“Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
The Parable of the Sower
Jesus’ parable of the sower invites us to be patient when we fail to achieve instant results from the preaching we do, and from our exemplary lives of bearing witness to Jesus and his Gospel.
At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
“I will be with you always, to the very end of time” –Matthew 28:20. The ascension of Jesus is the climax of his victory over sin and death. It is the day of joy and hope. Jesus wants us to share in his victory. It’s important to realize that he has not left us, but is still with us, helping us in our struggles.