SERMONS
In the Gospel Reading today, which many of us are familiar with, the Angel Gabriel is charged with announcing the good news to Zachariah, a Priest at the Temple, that his wife, Elizabeth, who has been barren since the time of marriage to her old age, would give birth to a son, who would be called John, the one to prepare the way for Jesus Christ the Messiah.
In the Gospel reading today Jesus asks, “Who do men say that I am?” His disciples surrounding him said, “Some say you are Elijah or a prophet.” Jesus then asks, “Who do you say that I am?” The majority of the disciples gave Jesus a blank stare, probably because, honestly speaking, they just didn’t know or they were a bit apprehensive on giving a wrong response. Whatever the case may be, Peter, says, “You are Christ the Son of the living God.” Because of that bold and probably surprising answer, Jesus bestows up Peter the title of rock or in Aramaic, Kepha. Indeed a title of honor. But right after, when Jesus was speaking of his forthcoming death and burial, Peter step up to Jesus and says that he will prevent him from dying. Immediately Jesus says, “Get behind me Satan.” It is interesting how Peter went from Kepha to Satan. Peter here is obviously attempting to convey to Jesus that he will be his protector. He in some way may have wanted to get another title on top of the one he was given. But alas the second title was Satan.
We have spoken much in this last year and a half about on how to speak to each other and how to use our words wisely. In the Gospel reading today Christ once again speaks to our consciousness, advising us not to insult our brothers or sisters through the use of our words.
In our day and time, we have a tendency to use words that can be insulting (or could be perceived as an insult). It is our duty as Christians to use our words wisely so that we bring no insult to others. This does not mean that we should not be truthful, or shy away from standing up for what is right. On the contrary, be truthful but stay away from insults. Say what you have to say but say it in a way that does not insult the person’s character or intelligence.
In the Gospel reading today, taken from St. Luke 18:18-27, Jesus Christ tells the rich man that he “lacks one thing,” that is, he should sell all his possession and follow God. The rich man “lacks this one thing” because the most important “thing” in his life is money and not God. It was his greatest weakness, which he could not get a handle on. In other words, it was his “Achilles heel!” It was his area of weakness. We could even say that was the area of his life that he gave more importance than God.
