August
31, 2008
From
"saint" to "Satan"
College
#2
Here’s
what I wrote last week...so far I’ve received one response. So
I’m trying again
I’m collecting the names
and e-mail addresses of
college-age students so St.
Brigid’s can send an
occasional “letter from
home”to our students--
especially those who are
away from home during
these years. The easiest way to sign up and stay in touch is to do it
online:
www.saintbrigid.net/college
If you are a college
student, just log onto this
page. If you’re the parent or grandparent of someone in college,
you can either go online or write your child’s name, college and
e-mail address on a piece of paper and drop it at the office or even
in the collection basket.
Finally, look out the window of your home--do you know any neighbors
who belong to St. Brigid’s whose children are in college? Then
here’s your mission this week: cut out this column and visit with
the family and invite them to sign up.
Thanks.
e-mail Father Ralph:
Past
Columns:
August 24: So you're not
the Pope
August 17: When God says
"no"
August 10: The Tiny Whispering
Sound
August 3: A Proud and Tender
Moment
July 27: What
would you ask for?
July 20: Waiting
for the Wheat
July
13: What we Wear
uly
6: We Welcome Westbrook
June
29: Sommer in the Summer
June 22: Welcome
Father Jaime
June 15: Father
Gonzalo Lopez
June 8: What happened
on Sunday
June 1: Where
do you belong?
May
25: We are the Body of Christ
May 18: Trinity,
It's About Unity
May 11: We are
One in the Spirit
May 4: Who's in
Your Top Twelve?
April 27: Now
that he's gone...
April 20: Yay
Deacons!
April 13: Here
comes the Pope
April 6: Fresh Oil
March 30: What are you doing
for Easter?
March 23: Can Easter come
too early?
March 16: Which crowd is
yours?
March 9: We believe, yet...
March 2: Oil or Mud
February
24: What are you thirsting for?
February 17: Who are You
Wearing?
February 10: Just Say No
February
3: The January
20: Being Safer
January 13: Conversations
in 2008
January 6: Matthew's Magi
December 30:
What's Next?
Columns from
2007
Columns
from 2005
Columns
from 2004
Columns
from 2003
Columns from 2002
Last
week Jesus praised St. Peter for his insight into what Jesus’s role
and mission was. But quickly, he turns on Peter calling him a “Satan.”
What happened here?
Jesus uses the term, “Satan”
because the devil is one who tempts us from doing what’s right.
And when Jesus tells Peter and the other apostles that he must go to Jerusalem
where he will suffer and die, Peter naturally tries to change Jesus’
plans. After all -- he loves Jesus; Jesus is his friend. He does not want
to see Jesus harmed or killed.
Yet, Peter’s suggestion that
Jesus go elsewhere is a real temptation for Jesus. He too is not eager
to suffer or die. Indeed, the “other road” he could take is
not a bad one. He could continue to heal and teach. There were thousands
who had not yet heard of the Good News Jesus came to bring.
But, Jesus knew he had to walk
toward Jerusalem where he was to confront (and eventually conquer) the
ultimate evil: sin and death. So he scolds Peter for urging him away from
his destiny.
Why would Matthew, the author of this gospel, write about this scolding?
The other evangelists don’t. It is so embarrassing to Peter -- not
quite the legacy you want to keep repeating if you’re now the head
of the church! Yet, Matthew keeps this account in his gospel because the
earlier followers of Jesus are often conflicted about whether to face
the persecutions that are breaking out against the Christian community
or whether to walk away from their faith. Matthew reminds them that when
Jesus was faced with his temptations, he let nothing (and no one) stop
him.
In today’s culture we’re
not persecuted by people who seek to do us harm because of our faith,
but our time is “persecuted” by activities that call many
away from the simplest practices of our faith -- like weekly Sunday mass,
for example. Let’s shun the “Satans” that urge us in
other directions and stay the course that the Lord invites us to.
