Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest

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. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord!  No such thing shall ever happen to you.” 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.”

No matter how much we might want to avoid it, doing God’s Will requires a sacrifice on our part. Jesus sacrificed himself for the salvation of souls, Peter had to sacrifice his worldly attachment to Jesus in order to think more like God, and we will have to make similar sacrifices in our own lives. We might not be asked to become martyrs for the faith in the respect to our body and blood, but we are all called to be martyrs for the faith in regard to our minds and spirits. When we are tempted to say, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall happen to him or her or me,” we should keep in mind that the purpose of our lives is not to fulfill our own wills, but rather to empty ourselves so that God can fill us with Himself. It is only when we do this, that we shall receive the graces we need to overcome all the obstacles we face in regards to our faith.

Are we willing to suffer greatly for our faith? Are we willing to detach ourselves of our worldly attachments to people, places, and things? What can we do to empty ourselves of selfishness and fill ourselves with grace?

O Lord, help us to think as you think and sacrifice ourselves as you did during your life, passion, and death.

Amen.