Week beginning: 30th August, 2026.
Peter’s spontaneous profession of faith, last week, and Christ’s great mandate to Peter and his successors, “Upon this rock I will build my church”, is immediately followed, this week, with Jesus’ rebuke, “Get behind me Satan!”
Whilst it is hard to credit that the two are in the same Gospel, let alone the same chapter, Matthew includes them as a warning to us, the members of the Church, that we should not take the first part as a triumph, or become overconfident that this means we can do no wrong.
Peter’s negative response to this, Jesus’ first prediction of His passion, did not intend to offend or obstruct Jesus’ plan of Salvation, but was a normal human reaction and showed he didn’t understand it in its fullness.
It is also a sign of his love for Jesus that he didn’t want Him to suffer and die. Jesus chose, not a perfect man, but one like us with faults and contradictions – but essentially good and straightforward – on which to build the Church.
As Christians, following Christ will inevitably lead to the Cross; how we regard it, will determine our response to it. We will then face the moment of truth; which we hope, with God’s help, will be the moment of our salvation.
Let us pray and put our faith and trust in Jesus, accept our cross, and look towards that beautiful destiny with Him.
Please find the link to this week’s Newsletter below:
