9/23/2022 (Friday) Today’s gospel reading: Luke 9:18-22
18 Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
19 They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”
20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
21 He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
9/23/2022 (Friday) Today’s gospel reflection: Luke 9:18-22
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God who came to redeem us. He has revealed that He will suffer greatly, be rejected and be killed but on the third day, He will be raised. We can imagine the shock of His disciples who considered Him as their savior from the Roman oppressors. Did they choose the wrong leader? How can the Christ suffer and be killed? Is He not the powerful Son of God who can perform amazing deeds?
Yet, Jesus was quick to add that His suffering and death will never be the end of it all. He will not die in vain. For on the third day, He will be raised up and will ultimately reign as King of Kings.
Let the gospel reading above reminds us that in Jesus, there is victory. We maybe suffering a lot and some of us have lost a few loved ones but if we join our suffering and fear of death with Jesus Christ, we too will rise as He had promised (John 11:25). Let His words strengthen and guide us as continue in our journey in this uncertain world.