Vocation Meditation - August 31

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

And Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him saying, "God forbid. Lord! "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?"

The apostles' true knowledge of Jesus' mission slowly unfolded before their eyes. They saw the expanse of His messianic activities spreading far and wide. With all His prodigious works and fame, Jesus for them was headed for glory, the glory they partly understood. Jesus' cross and his humiliating death were a scandal for them. Peter was unprepared to hear this. Jesus wanted them to believe in the Cross' redemptive value. Peter's rebuke to Jesus: 'God forbid. No!' echoes today our response to life every time we refuse to carry our own cross in imitation of Him. Jesus was clear. By God's design, to accept the cross and be transformed by it, is the way to fullness of life. Our vocation to discipleship will always be costly because taking our cross for the Sequela Christi is non-negotiable!

Vocation Challenge:
"Take up your cross and follow Me."
Share with someone what crosses challenged your vocation towards a stronger attachment to Christ.

For the full Gospel reading for this Sunday, visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops site.

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