Wednesday, August 4, 2010

18th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 05-08-10

Jeremiah 31 : 31-34 / Matthew 16 : 13-23

We human beings are really a mystery in ourselves.

On the one hand, we are capable of doing so much good and to be so loving.

Yet on the other hand, the history of humanity has shown that human beings can also be capable of doing so much evil.

In the gospel, we see how Jesus revealed these two mysterious and contrasting sides of humanity to Peter.

Peter was to be the rock on which Jesus will build His Church.

Yet even before that could be understood, Jesus called Peter an obstacle to His path because the way he thought was not God's way but man's.

These two opposing sides are in each of us and we will always have to struggle with it.

But the prophet Jeremiah said in the 1st reading that God will plant His law deep within His people, writing it on their hearts.

Yes, we have that capability to do good and to be loving.

We only need to look deep within ourselves and ask ourselves: Who do I say I am?

In answering that question truthfully, we will change our ways and think and act in the ways of the Lord.