Mt 16:21-27
21Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. 22Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” 23He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.26What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? 27For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.”
Reflection:
Get behind me, Satan! We may call one another Satan, fight over differences, and yet remain the best of friends. Peter’s ways and answers bring him at odds with Jesus. But in the end, Jesus loves him more and entrusts him with much. They will remain friends till the end. How do they do it?
First, they are true to themselves. Peter is being Peter, and the Lord is being himself, the suffering servant.
Second, they do not become a hindrance to each other’s destiny. They accompany each other in fulfilling their particular roles. They do not blindly cling to one another but let the other follow his dream, impossible and repulsive though it may seem at first.
Third, they know when to talk and when to listen. Peter at first objects at the words of Jesus. Peter is always first with an answer or a question. In the end he finds his role: to listen first. Such true friends!
Lord, you know that I will be content with a few good friends.
Listen to a friend today without doubts, questions, or objections.