Gospel Reflection for the 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A.

My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. (Psalm 62) 

Today's gospel is a very sad and serious one, which, like Peter, our first reaction is  not to accept. We do not want Jesus to have to undergo rejection and a tortured death at the hands of religious leaders. But Jesus is under no illusion that being the very personification of Truth would lead him into mortal conflict with the religious authorities of his time. Jesus then speaking from His divinity exhorts his followers down through the ages that they too must bear the cross daily in their lives, in whatever form of suffering it might take. He himself stands as an inspiration, a model, a beloved friend to Christians for all time and in every age who have suffered for their faith.

This gospel is a vivid reality for the martyrs we read about in the papers every day, reminding us that the age of martyrdom is not past but is still  very much with us. And for those of us not called to be martyrs this gospel calls upon us to be saints.