Twenty-second Sunday of Ordinary Time
Massimo Palombella
In today’s Gospel (Mt 16:21-27) Jesus reproaches Peter for his way of thinking. Peter does not “think according to God,” namely, his worldview, the choices he ordinarily makes, the way he sets up and lives out his relationships… All of this, in essence, is far from what Jesus would do.
Jesus’ reproach to Peter subtly challenges our lives. Indeed, we can live in the Church, be faithful to a religious practice and, in all of this, not “think according to God,” not allow the Lord to really touch our lives. In essence, not really allowing God to exist in our lives.
We can illude ourselves that if everything is formally in place, if we are faithful to the education we received, if we stay within the horizons we have been received, if we live by “common sense” rules that are shared by everyone, if we have the esteem of people who are important… then we “think according to God.”
The Lord challenges us in the heart of our lives, that is, where we make our decisions, where we make our true evaluations, where we really decide our future, and in all of this, he is waiting for us “beyond.” Beyond the received patterns, beyond our little securities, beyond our insecurities and fears. He awaits and challenges us so that life may truly become ours and our relationship with Him personal, intimate, alive and life-giving.
If we accept this challenge of his, if we begin to “think according to God,” with his horizons, then we can truly experience what “abundant life” means.
The Offertory antiphon for today’s Celebration is taken from Psalm 39 (Ps. 39:14, 15) with the following text,
“Domine, in auxilium meum respice.
Confundantur et revereantur qui quaerunt animam meam, ut auferant eam.
Domine in auxilium meum respice.”
(O Lord, look down in order to help me;
let them be covered with confusion and shame,
who seek after my soul to take it away).
The attached music, in Gregorian Chant, is from the Gradual Triplex published in Solesmes in 1979. The music track can be found on YouTube where there are no indications about the interpretation.
A blessed Sunday and heartfelt greetings.
