Daily Gospel Reflection for September 3, 2023

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Matthew 16:21-27

Jesus introduces the concept of redemptive suffering in His first prediction of the Passion, but His followers don't understand. They've seen Him targeted by the Pharisees because of His teachings, but clearly they don't expect it to escalate to the point where Jesus is put to death.

But He assures them that this is exactly what will happen—and furthermore, that it is actually God's plan for it to happen this way.

That doesn't seem to make sense. Who can wrap their heads around the paradoxical teaching,

Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 16:25)

Jesus's friends don't want Him to suffer, much in the same way that we don't want our loved ones to suffer. 

But the suffering Jesus knew He would endure was necessary suffering: His giving up His earthly life opened heaven to all who would come after.

We don't understand it. Like Peter, we can't make sense of it. But we're called, as Peter was, to get out of God's way and let His plan play out the way it was intended.

Ponder:

Am I standing in God's way regarding His plans for my life and my family?

Pray:

Lord, guide my steps today, that I may walk in the way You want me to go and not become an obstacle to Your plan.

Click to tweet:
We're called, as Peter was, to get out of God's way and let His plan play out the way it was intended. #dailygospel

Copyright 2023 Barb Szyszkiewicz