Last weekend in the Gospel we heard that Peter was the Rock upon which Christ would build His Church and that what Peter and His apostles bound on earth would be bound in heaven, what they loosed on earth would be loosed in heaven. Peter was the rock , he was called the Blessed by Christ.

This weekend the Gospel (Mt 16:21-27) puts Peter in a different light. He is still Blessed and he is still the Rock, but it seems that Peter has also become a barrier or obstacle to Christ?s mission and ministry.

Peter objects?even physically, pulling Christ aside?to His words that He must suffer?even unto death on the Cross. In this action, Peter is pulling Christ away from the path of the Cross and becomes an obstacle to Christ?s mission and ministry. Jesus responds with ? Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are not thinking as God does, but as human beings do.? Christ commands that Peter, like all disciples, take their proper place BEHIND Him, be-hind the master.

It is human nature to deny and avoid pain. We all do it. We all either look for ways to avoid pain and suffering ourselves and we can at times become the barrier to pain and suffering for those around us, especially those we love. But God does not promise us a carefree, painless life on earth. For Jesus said to His disciples, ? Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For who-ever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. In this we believe that just as Christ Himself suffered and died, so too must we suffer?taking up our cross and following Christ. Then Jesus asks again, ? What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?

As Peter became an obstacle to Christ?s mission? and then transformed into the Rock upon which Christ?s Church has been built and continues?we too must get behind the Master and follow Him to the Cross?and then beyond the Cross?to the resurrection of the joy on Easter Sunday morning. For our faith tells us?in the very words of Christ: ?For the Son of Man will come with His angels in His Father?s glory, and then He will repay all according to his conduct.?

The very difficult truth is that our life will be filled with joy and tribulation, it will hand us happiness at times and great sadness?and sometimes our crosses many seem numerous and unending, but at the end, on that Final Day when the Lord comes in all His glory, He will make all things anew. The righteous will rise ?on the third day? and unto them will be an everlasting glory; a joy beyond all belief?and it will be unending, eternal and glorious for it has been promised by none other that Christ Himself. Let us again look to last weekend?s Gospel and hear the question Christ asks us: ?Who do you say that the Son of Man is?? And do you really, truly believe this? What shall our faith-filled response be?