In the last two weeks we journeyed from the season of Epiphany to the Season of Lent, ushered in on Ash Wednesday. The Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Hoare helped us sharpen our focus in order to be transformed into the life God calls us to be - to see the glory of God as we give up our own control and surrender to God's will for us. This is what Jesus is preparing his disciples for as he explains that in order for his mission to be fulfilled, he must suffer shame, humiliation and death on a cross. This immediately follows the transfiguration story in the gospel of Mark.
At the beginning of this week's gospel lesson, Peter proclaims Jesus to be the Son of God, and almost immediatley after that he rebukes Jesus when the Lord told his disciples of his impending suffering, shame and death. How does Jesus respond to Peter? What is going on here for Peter? For Jesus? See "The Foolishness and Weakness of God - No One There, Only Jesus," by The Rev. Martin Smith.
Jesus tells us that we are to deny ourselves, and take up our crosses and follow him. What does he mean? How are we able to do that? See "A Leap to Faith," by Michaela Bruzzese, Alone with God . What is Jesus telling Peter when he says "Get thee behind me Satan? See "Seeing Past Satan," by Lauren Winner, Journey Toward Resurrection."
What must Peter have felt? What did he go through when he experienced the mountaintop transfiguration of Christ, seeing him as the Son of God, but then is told to get behind Jesus as Satan? When he denied Jesus three times before the crucifixion? When he was given the "keys to the kingdom?" Why does Peter's heart break? See "The Heartbreaking Messiah," by The Rev. Dr. David l. Lose. Why does God love a contrite heart and spirit? What can we take from this during this Lenten Season? What can we give?
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