Beloved Brothers and Sisters, To follow the Lord is to deny ourselves and to take up our crosses. From the Heart, Fr. Heart, SVD

1. Welcome to our Bible Study
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time A
3 September 2017
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st reading: Jeremiah 20:7-9
• 7 You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be
duped; you were too strong for me, and you
triumphed. All the day I am an object of laughter;
everyone mocks me. 8 Whenever I speak, I
must cry out, violence and outrage is my
message; The word of the LORD has brought
me derision and reproach all the day. 9 I say to
myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his
name no more. But then it becomes like fire
burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones;
grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.
The focus is on the sufferings of Jeremiah.

3. 1st reading: Jeremiah 20:7-9
• 7 You duped me, O LORD,
and I let myself be duped;
you were too strong for me,
and you triumphed. All the
day I am an object of
laughter; everyone mocks
me. 8 Whenever I speak, I
must cry out, violence and
outrage is my message; The
word of the LORD has
brought me derision and
reproach all the day. 9 I say
to myself, I will not mention
him, I will speak in his name
no more. But then it becomes
like fire burning in my heart,
imprisoned in my bones;
grow weary holding it in, I
cannot endure it.
Commentary
• In v.7, the prophet Jeremiah talks to
God.
• He accuses God of duping
(seducing, enticing, deceiving,
alluring) him.
• God is too strong for him. Jeremiah
is helpless. He can’t defeat God.
• For this reason, he has become an
object of derision and laughter. The
people mock him. V.7b
• In v.8, Jeremiah recognizes the
gravity of his message. It is very
negative: violence and outrage
(destruction, disaster).
• The people deride and reproach him
because of the Word of God. V.8b

4. 1st reading: Jeremiah 20:7-9
• 7 You duped me, O LORD,
and I let myself be duped;
you were too strong for me,
and you triumphed. All the
day I am an object of
laughter; everyone mocks
me. 8 Whenever I speak, I
must cry out, violence and
outrage is my message; The
word of the LORD has
brought me derision and
reproach all the day. 9 I say
to myself, I will not mention
him, I will speak in his name
no more. But then it becomes
like fire burning in my heart,
imprisoned in my bones;
grow weary holding it in, I
cannot endure it.
• In v.9, Jeremiah soliloquys his
reaction. “I will keep quiet. I will not
represent him, not speak on his
behalf.”
• Yet, keeping quiet about God and his
word does not give him peace. All
the more he is consumed.
• He grows weary (weak and sick,
unhappy).
• He has no freedom but to talk to the
people.

5. Reflections on the 1st reading
• To prophesy is not an easy job.
• To bear God’s message is an honor, but it can create
trouble.
• To be a prophet, one has to endure derisions,
humiliations and rejection.
• However, a prophet who does not speak on behalf of
God is a contradiction in itself.
• Silence does not bring you peace.
• Do you have more peace when you don’t speak out?

6. Resp. Ps 63:2. 3-4. 5-6. 8-9
• R. (2b) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
2 O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.
• 3 Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
4 For your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.
• 5 Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
6 As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.
• 8 You are my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
9 My soul clings fast to you;
your right hand upholds me.

7. Resp. Ps 63:2. 3-4. 5-6. 8-9
• R. (2b) My soul is thirsting for
you, O Lord my God.
2 O God, you are my God whom I
seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul
thirsts like the earth, parched,
lifeless and without water.
• 3 Thus have I gazed toward you in
the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
4 For your kindness is a greater
good than life; my lips shall glorify
you.
• 5 Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon
your name.
6 As with the riches of a banquet
shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth
shall praise you.
• 8 You are my help, and in the
shadow of your wings I shout for
joy.
9 My soul clings fast to you;
your right hand upholds me.
Commentary
• In v.2, the psalmist expresses his
longing for the Lord. He uses similes.
• V.3 indicates that he is in the
Temple, where God manifests his
power and glory.
• V.4 affirms God’s kindness and
goodness.
• The psalmist promises to praise God
and pray to him always. V.5
• V.6 assures that the psalmist will be
satisfied, like eating in a banquet.
• V.8 affirms that God is his help. The
psalmist rejoices in God’s maternal
protection.
• V.9 is an image of a strong tie
between God and the psalmist.

8. Reflections on the Psalm
• How nice it is to pray this psalm!
• It is a prayer of an appreciative person.
• We can appropriate (make it our own) this
psalm if we are not negativistic.
• We clear our minds and shred off negative
emotions in order to pray the psalm
sincerely.
• How do you pray to God?

9. 2nd reading: Romans 12:1-2
• 1 I urge you therefore, brothers, by the
mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a
living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God,
your spiritual worship. 2 Do not conform
yourselves to this age but be transformed
by the renewal of your mind, that you may
discern what is the will of God, what is
good and pleasing and perfect.
The focus is on offering ourselves as sacrifice.

10. 2nd reading: Romans 12:1-2
• 1 I urge you therefore,
brothers, by the mercies of
God, to offer your bodies as a
living sacrifice, holy and
pleasing to God, your spiritual
worship. 2 Do not conform
yourselves to this age but be
transformed by the renewal of
your mind, that you may
discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and
perfect.
Commentary
• In v.1, Paul urges the Christians in
Rome to make their bodies as a
living sacrifice.
• Paul sees the body as something
good, not evil in the eyes of God.
• In v.2, Paul encourages the
Christians not to be swayed by the
enticements of this world.
• Instead, they should be transformed.
• The means of transformation is the
renewal of their mind.
• V.2b gives the purpose of their
transformation:
– To discern the will of God
– To do what is good and pleasing
and perfect

11. Reflections on the 2nd reading
• Paul views the human body as something
sacred and beautiful, not evil.
• Our bodies can be offered as sacrifice to the
Lord.
• We use our bodies to relate with God.
• We should not allow our bodies to conform to
the values of the world.
• If we are worldly, conforming to this “age,” we
will not be able to discern godly values.
• We will never know what is good, pleasing and
perfect.

12. Gospel reading: Matthew 16:21-27
• 21 From that time on, Jesus 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. 22 Then Peter took him
aside and began to rebuke him, "God forbid, Lord! No
such thing shall ever happen to you." 23 He 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." 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever
wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his
life for my sake will find it. 26 What 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? 27 For the
Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's
glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his
conduct. The focus is on suffering.

13. Gospel reading: Matthew 16:21-27
Jesus’ unexpected destiny
• 21 From that time on, Jesus 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.
Rebuke of Peter rebuked
• 22 Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, "God forbid,
Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you."
• 23 He 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."
The cost of discipleship
• 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after
me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For
whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life
for my sake will find it. 26 What 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? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his
angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay everyone
according to his conduct.
A simple outline!

14. Gospel reading: Matthew 16:21-27
Jesus’ unexpected destiny
• 21 From that time on,
Jesus 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.
Rebuke of Peter rebuked
• 22 Then Peter took him
aside and began to
rebuke him, "God forbid,
Lord! No such thing shall
ever happen to you."
• 23 He 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."
Commentary
• In v.21, Jesus predicts his fate in Jerusalem.
• He will suffer greatly, from the elders, and be
killed and be raised from the dead (paschal
mystery).
• The elders, the chief priests and the scribes
belong to the aristocracy (Sadducees), to the
priestly class, administering the Temple of
Jerusalem.
• In v.22, Peter does not understand the
meaning of what will happen to Jesus.
• He accosts Jesus and rebukes him.
• He does not agree that Jesus should suffer
and die.
• In v.23, Jesus rebukes Peter, for not
conforming to the plan of God, for thinking like
an ordinary human being concerned only with
self-preservation, avoiding sufferings.
• Here is revealed the contrast of the mind of
God and that of human beings.

15. Gospel reading: Matthew 16,21-27
The cost of discipleship
• 24 Then Jesus said to his
disciples, "Whoever
wishes to come after me
must deny himself, take
up his cross, and follow
me. 25 For whoever
wishes to save his life will
lose it, but whoever loses
his life for my sake will
find it. 26 What 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? 27 For the
Son of Man will come
with his angels in his
Father's glory, and then
he will repay everyone
according to his conduct.
• In v.24, Jesus challenges his disciples.
• He adds more conditions to follow him
truly:
– To deny oneself
– To take up his/her cross
– And follow him (to his way of the cross)
• Vv.25-26 are warnings for those who are
after their own self-preservation, and who
desire to possess everything (including
one’s life).
• In v.27, Jesus, as the Son of Man,
promises generous reward to those who
will take up his challenge.
• It is implied that they, too, will resurrect
from the dead. See v.25b again.

16. Reflections on the gospel reading
• We cannot be true followers of Christ if we are
not willing to undergo suffering and death.
• This is the cost of discipleship.
• Avoidance of suffering and death is the teaching
of the world and Satan.
• Peter, who acknowledged Jesus as Christ, is
called Satan by Jesus because he missed an
important point.
• The way to God and salvation is the way of the
cross.
• There is no other way.
• Forget following Christ, if you want to maintain
your comfort and luxury.

17. Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
• The first reading talks of the sufferings of the prophet
Jeremiah.
• The psalm acknowledges God as a refuge of a guy who
has suffered much.
• The second reading talks of offering our bodies as
sacrifice to God.
• The gospel reading talks of undergoing suffering in order
to attain glory.
The preacher must focus on the cost of discipleship.

18. How to develop your homily / sharing
• Are you a disciple of God?
• When you follow Christ, does it mean you are
free from trouble?
• The readings say no.
• If you want to follow Christ, you will be in trouble.

19. • In the gospel reading, Jesus challenges us, his
disciples, to carry our crosses and forget
ourselves.
• We have to deny ourselves from comfortable
lives.
• We don’t give in to our caprices, tendencies,
addictions, bad attitudes and wrong motives.
• We have to make necessary sacrifices.
• We don’t cling to our power, titles and what not.

20. • In the first reading, Jeremiah cries over his
sufferings.
• He knows the reasons why he is in deep trouble.
– The message that he carries is not acceptable to the
people.
– So the people despise him.
– Jeremiah becomes an object of bad jokes and
ridicule.
• Jeremiah feels hurt and badly beaten.
• As a prophet, Jeremiah has no way out. It is a
kind of “damn if you do, damn if you don’t” thing.
• He has to move on, he has to overcome his
fears and comfort.

21. • In the second reading, Paul encourages
voluntary suffering.
• He convinces his fellow Christians to offer
themselves as acceptable sacrifice to the Lord,
never allowing themselves to indulge in worldly
pleasures.
• They should not be seeking what conforms to
this age.
• Paul states the reason why:
– That they may be able to discern what is good,
pleasing and perfect to the Lord, i.e., to make the
correct decisions.

22. • The readings are against hedonists, who are
always seeking pleasure, not Christ.
• The readings encourage us to endure pain and
suffering.
• It is part of the game, if not the main dish.
• That’s the only road to success, glory and
heaven.
• Each effort entails sacrifice.

23. • Beware of church workers, servant-leaders, who
avoid sufferings.
• You cannot rely on them.
• Beware of false disciples. They are riders in the
activities of the Church. They don’t shell out any
centavo. They exert no effort. They bring no
food. They are there when everything is ready.
• To be true ministers in the Church, we must be
willing to pay the price and to be crucified.

24. • The eucharist is a sacrament that
strengthens us in our sufferings.
• The eucharist is meaningless to people,
who have no commitment to Christ and
are avoiding sacrifices.
• In the eucharist, Jesus reminds us of his
passion, death and resurrection.

25. Our Context of Sin and Grace
• Hedonism
• Vanity, glamour
• Gimmicking
• Avoidance of what is
discomfort and
cumbersome.
• Going always to fun
places.
• Glory without sacrifice
• Going up the ladder
without undergoing a
process.
• Committed Christians, who
are willing to sacrifice their
comfort for the sake of the
poor and Christ.
• Heroism
• Martyrdom
• Higher values
• Living by honest work

26. Suggested Songs
• Follow Christ by Sebastian Temple
• Bayang Tinawag
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhzcbwbfMe8