Isaiah 50:5-9 / James 2:14-18 / Mark 8:27-35
It is said that life is like a roller coaster ride, with its ups and downs. Some may think of it as a thrilling fun ride, while others think of it as a chilling scary ride.
But whether roller coaster or whatever, life certainly has its ups and downs.
Well, just about a month ago, we were looking forward to more restrictions being lifted, and we were about to step forward to more socializing.
But then, the number of cases started to spike and we are now holding back again.
If there is another term for ups and downs, then it could be expectations and disappointments.
And over these months, we have learned, or are still learning, to manage our expectations and disappointments.
Maybe we have learned not to expect too much, so that there won't be too many disappointments.
The ups and downs of life can be seen in the gospel account and it was Peter who experienced it.
Jesus asked His disciples who did people say He was. The disciples came up with opinions like John the Baptist, Elijah or one of the prophets.
Then Jesus narrowed it down to a personal question when He asked His disciples who they said He was.
While the disciples were thinking about the most correct answer, it was Peter who declared “You are the Christ”.
Peter got it spot-on, though it was by divine revelation that he got that inspiration. Whether he knew what it really meant is another matter.
He could have felt good about it, felt “up there”, since he was the only one who could give such an answer.
But almost at the next instance, Peter hit the ground and it was a heavy fall.
When Jesus began to teach about rejection, suffering and death, Peter began to remonstrate with him.
And Jesus rebuked him saying, “Get behind me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God's way but man's”.
Peter had his expectations about the Christ. The Christ, or the Messiah, is the promised Saviour, and in Peter's mind, it was about power and glory.
The Saviour would bring about victory over the enemies, and there would be peace and prosperity.
Those were his expectations, and he wasn't going to let those expectations turn into disappointments when Jesus taught about rejection, suffering and death.
Peter would certainly be shocked to be called “Satan” and with that all his previous expectations were shattered.
And just as Jesus asked His disciples who did they think He was, Jesus is also asking us the same question.
What and who Jesus is to us comes with a subsequent question, and that is what are we expecting of Jesus.
If what we are expecting of Jesus is similar to the expectations of Peter, then it could be that the way we think is not God's way but man’s.
But let's turn the tables around and let us ask ourselves what is Jesus expecting of us.
Jesus made that clear in the gospel when he said, “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel will save it.
In life there are ups and downs, we have our expectations and disappointments.
But with faith in God, we will have hope, and that hope is expressed in the good works of love.
St. James said in the second reading: I will prove to you that I have faith by showing you my good deeds.
And it is with faith and that the ministry members of our Parish continue to serve so that there can be Masses, so that we can come for Mass, and that the poor living at York Hill and Jalan Kukoh are served, even though there are risks involved.
Let us not be too focused on expectations and disappointments, or on the ups and downs of life.
Rather, let us focus on the Cross of Christ, and like Jesus, let us be prepared to serve with love, just as Jesus came to serve and to save us.