Dear Friends,

This weekend we celebrate the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time.  In the gospel reading below, Peter identifies Jesus as “the Christ.” The image that Peter had of Christ was far different from the reality of what Jesus was to face—suffering, rejection, and death.  This reading reminds that while discipleship (following Jesus) may be difficult at times, it is through the act of taking up our cross that we come to eternal life.

As we reflect Jesus’ words: “Whoever wishes to come after me, must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me,”  we ask God for the strength needed to take up the crosses in our lives each day and to give of ourselves for the good of others.

Enjoy the day and the weekend ahead!

In Christ’s peace,
Mrs. Katie Walsh

Gospel – Mk: 27-35

Jesus and his disciples set out
for the villages of Caesarea Philippi.
Along the way he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that I am?”
They said in reply,
“John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others one of the prophets.”
And he asked them,
“But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said to him in reply,
“You are the Christ.”
Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He began to teach them
that the Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed, and rise after three days.
He spoke this openly.
Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples,
rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the gospel will save it.”