Today's Gospel with comment: February 20, 2020

Thursday of the VI week of Ordinary Time

From the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark 8,27-33.
At that time, Jesus left with his disciples towards the villages around Cesarèa di Filippo; and on the way he asked his disciples saying: "Who do people say that I am?"
And they said to him, "John the Baptist, others then Elijah and others one of the prophets."
But he replied: "Who do you say I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Christ."
And he strictly forbade them to tell anyone about him.
And he began to teach them that the Son of man had to suffer a lot, and to be tried again by the elders, by the high priests and by the scribes, then be killed and, after three days, rise again.
Jesus made this speech openly. Then Peter took him aside, and began to reproach him.
But he turned and looked at the disciples, rebuked Peter and said to him: "Far be it from me, Satan! Because you do not think according to God, but according to men ».
Liturgical translation of the Bible

St. Cyril of Jerusalem (313-350)
bishop of Jerusalem and doctor of the Church

Catechesis, n ° 13, 3.6.23
«Peter took Jesus aside, and began to rebuke him»
We have to glory rather than be ashamed of the cross of the Savior, because speaking of the cross is "scandal for the Jews and madness for the Greeks", but for us it is the announcement of salvation. The cross, madness for those who go to perdition, for us who have salvation from it, is the power of God (1 Cor 1,18-24), as as said who died on it was the Son of God, God made man and not a simple man. If in the time of Moses a lamb was able to turn away the exterminating angel (Ex 12,23:1,23), logically and much more effectively the Lamb of God could take upon himself the sins of the world to free him from his sins (Jn XNUMX:XNUMX). (...)

He didn't give up on life because he was forced, he wasn't even sacrificed by others but he wanted to sacrifice himself. Listen to his words: "I have the power to leave life and the power to take it back" (Jn 10,18:XNUMX). He then met his passion for his free choice, happy to carry out his sublime project, joyful for the crown that was proposed to him and satisfied for the salvation he offered to men. He was not ashamed of the cross salvation of the world, because it was not a poor man to suffer, but God made man and therefore capable of deserving the prize of patience.

Do not rejoice on the cross only in time of peace, but have the same faith in time of persecution; not be friends with Jesus in peacetime and his enemy in wartime. You will receive the forgiveness of sins and the royal charisms that it will bestow on your spirit, you will have to fight generously for your King when the war starts. Innocent Jesus was crucified for you, he who was sinless. It is you who receive the grace, you do not do it to him, or rather you do it but only in so far as it is pleasing to him that you reciprocate the gift of being crucified for you on Golgotha.