August 31, 2014 – Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jer 20: 7-9; Ps 63: 2-6, 8-9; Rom 12: 1-2; Mt 16: 21-27
All of the readings for this Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time confirm the fact that it is not always easy to follow the Lord; in fact, being a Christian and living as Jesus has challenged us to do can be downright uncomfortable.
We may not suffer the humiliations and dangers that our fellow Catholics do in many parts of this world; however, we do not live in a society which always views us in a positive way. Stewardship challenges us to follow and support our beliefs in more places than at church on the weekend. We are expected to set Christian examples, and we are especially expected to follow the beliefs we profess.
Jesus could not be more obvious when He states in today’s Gospel: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” At no time in Holy Scripture does the Lord ever say, “This will be easy.” Professing our beliefs in a society which may belittle them is certainly not easy. Yet, that is our call. St. Paul tells us in the second reading, “Do not conform yourselves to this age.” No, it is not easy, but Jesus expects us to be His disciple. The Lord wants us to embrace and live out stewardship in our lives.
