THE THOUGHTS OF GOD

PRAYER MOMENT  

Thursday 20 February 2014.

THE THOUGHTS OF GOD

Pause. Be present in the villages around Caesarea Philippi with Jesus and his disciples..

Reading. “Get behind me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s” (Mark 8:27-33)

Reflection. If you have been following these reflections you will know that this chapter 8 is a cascade of revelations. We see the disciples battling to understand and change their way of thinking. Here, the revelation of his title, the Christ (Greek), the Messiah (Hebrew), is immediately followed by his “job description.” The only way to fulfill his mission was to enter totally into the human experience. And that experience is one of constant obstacles (challenges) where the person has to stretch him/herself, go beyond himself, to achieve his purpose. It will mean dying in one way or another. Nothing worthwhile comes easily, and especially not the salvation of the world. It is still like that on the global level – economic structures, climate change, etc – and on the personal level – family, work, relationships, etc.    

Prayer. Lord, you knew early on that there was going to be no way of achieving your purpose without enduring the worst that human experience could do to you. Yet you accepted it. Teach us to follow your way. Amen.

David Harold-Barry SJ

Pause. Be present in the villages around Caesarea Philippi with Jesus and his disciples..

Reading. “Get behind me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s” (Mark 8:27-33)

Reflection. If you have been following these reflections you will know that this chapter 8 is a cascade of revelations. We see the disciples battling to understand and change their way of thinking. Here, the revelation of his title, the Christ (Greek), the Messiah (Hebrew), is immediately followed by his “job description.” The only way to fulfil his mission was to enter totally into the human experience. And that experience is one of constant obstacles (challenges) where the person has to stretch him/herself, go beyond himself, to achieve his purpose. It will mean dying in one way or another. Nothing worthwhile comes easily, and especially not the salvation of the world. It is still like that on the global level – economic structures, climate change, etc – and on the personal level – family, work, relationships, etc.    

Prayer. Lord, you knew early on that there was going to be no way of achieving your purpose without enduring the worst that human experience could do to you. Yet you accepted it. Teach us to follow your way. Amen.

David Harold-Barry SJ