Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 2023

Title

Total Commitment Means the Cross

Outline

Many people like Jesus but not as Lord

They find Jesus spiritually meaningful, they admire him, but they have not committed themselves to be his followers, his obedient disciples

Others mouth the words of commitment, but shy away from anything that would distance them from this or that aspect of their culture

Our texts today challenge this mindset

Our texts call for commitment

Paul tells us, “to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.” That unpacks Romans chapter 10 verses 8-10.

Jesus tells us, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” That is total commitment in following a man who has just predicted his own crucifixion.

This puts us in opposition to our age

Paul says, “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” If you want to unpack this go to part 3 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Or read Paul’s ethical exhortations.

If you think that this is optional, listen to Jesus speaking to Peter: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Or meditate on how counter-cultural his instruction is: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”

Jeremiah was called by God and seems to have thought all things would go well with him, but we find him saying, “You seduced me, LORD, and I let myself be seduced.” Why? Because God filled him with his Word and the result was, “All day long I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me.” He was not through yet, for it would get worse.

Yet this is the way to life

Jesus will judge his pseudo-disciples, among others, “For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.”

Paul knew terrible tribulation, but he promises us what he had found in God: “the good, the pleasing and the perfect.”

Even Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, can at times look beyond the present to see hope and restoration. He never turns his back on serving God even when he is suffering the most.

What about us?

Now I trust that you have heard this before and have chosen to follow Jesus despite the suffering and for the joy set before you.

But if you have forgotten or are tempted to compromise or wonder about the lifestyle taught in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this is a reminder.

There are consolations and joy in following Jesus, but it is rowing upstream against the culture, which means that it will also be the way of the cross that by the mercy of God ends in the glory of Jesus.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 9-3-2023: Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 20:7–9

7 You seduced me, LORD, and I let myself be seduced;

you were too strong for me, and you prevailed.

All day long I am an object of laughter;

everyone mocks me.

8 Whenever I speak, I must cry out,

violence and outrage I proclaim;

The word of the LORD has brought me

reproach and derision all day long.

9 I say I will not mention him,

I will no longer speak in his name.

But then it is as if fire is burning in my heart,

imprisoned in my bones;

I grow weary holding back,

I cannot!

Catholic Daily Readings 9-3-2023: Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 63:2b

2 O God, you are my God—

it is you I seek!

For you my body yearns;

for you my soul thirsts,

In a land parched, lifeless,

and without water.

PSALM

Psalm 63:2–6, 8–9

2 O God, you are my God—

it is you I seek!

For you my body yearns;

for you my soul thirsts,

In a land parched, lifeless,

and without water.

3 I look to you in the sanctuary

to see your power and glory.

4 For your love is better than life;

my lips shall ever praise you!

5 I will bless you as long as I live;

I will lift up my hands, calling on your name.

6 My soul shall be sated as with choice food,

with joyous lips my mouth shall praise you!

8 You indeed are my savior,

and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.

9 My soul clings fast to you;

your right hand upholds me.

Catholic Daily Readings 9-3-2023: Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND READING

Romans 12:1–2

CHAPTER 12

1 I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. 2 Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

Catholic Daily Readings 9-3-2023: Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Ephesians 1:17–18

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. 18 May the eyes of [your] hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones,

GOSPEL

Matthew 16:21–27

21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. 22 Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” 23 He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 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? 27  For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 9-3-2023: Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 | ORDINARY TIME

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR A | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Jeremiah 20:7–9

Response Psalm 63:2b

Psalm Psalm 63:2–6, 8–9

Second Reading Romans 12:1–2

Gospel Acclamation Ephesians 1:17–18

Gospel Matthew 16:21–27