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Today I listened to Hugo Chavez speak to the United Nations. He called President Bush, Satan and referred to the United States as imperialist oppressors. It made me think about Sunday's gospel.
The gospel this week is one that many of you will recognize. Jesus is walking along a dusty road, traveling to his next speaking engagement on a hill outside of Caesarea Philippi. He and his disciples are chatting and Jesus casually says, "So, we've been playing to sell-out crowds for weeks now. What are people saying about me? Who do they think I am? One suggests Elijah, another John the Baptist. Them, according to the author Mark, Jesus asks, "Who do YOU say that I am?" Peter, Mr. Everyman of the gospel pipes up, "You're the Messiah, duh!" (I added the duh for effect. It's clear Peter is convinced.) And then Jesus "warned" them not to tell anyone about him.
The Messiah is a big deal in Roman-occupied Jerusalem. Most of the people thought he would come and liberate captives and smash the rod of the taskmaster. The Messiah is an epic hero, one who saves his people from the oppressors with a sword in hand.
Jesus dashes their hopes for the God-like hero. He doesn't have a sword beneath his tunic. In fact he says, "Guys, I'm HUMAN. And what's more, the entire Jewish establishment, the chief priests, the elders and the scribes are going to reject me. I'm going to suffer, be killed and then rise after three days." OK, so he gives them a little hope for the whole liberation thing with the rising from the dead part.
Peter pulls Jesus aside and says, "Man, this can't be true. You're not going to suffer and die!" That's when Jesus utters the much-quoted phrase, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." Duh. Jesus is always stating the obvious.
What maybe isn't as obvious in this story is in the middle of Jesus' explanation of the Messiah's fate. The establishment will reject this Messiah. He upsets the status quo in a big way, telling people that the only thing truly necessary for salvation is to love your neighbor as yourself. No sacrificing doves or goats in the temple. (And boy, the shekels spent on those sacrifices are very important to the chief priests of the establishment.)
So what do I take from this? It is important to question the establishment. I don't do it enough. I regret my support our invasion of Iraq. I didn't ask enough questions.
Now, I'm not saying I agree with what Mr. Chavez had to say. I'm saying I am thinking about loving my neighbor, in Venezuela and Iraq. Not quite sure how to do that, but I believe it's my responsibility to try.
Today I listened to Hugo Chavez speak to the United Nations. He called President Bush, Satan and referred to the United States as imperialist oppressors. It made me think about Sunday's gospel.
The gospel this week is one that many of you will recognize. Jesus is walking along a dusty road, traveling to his next speaking engagement on a hill outside of Caesarea Philippi. He and his disciples are chatting and Jesus casually says, "So, we've been playing to sell-out crowds for weeks now. What are people saying about me? Who do they think I am? One suggests Elijah, another John the Baptist. Them, according to the author Mark, Jesus asks, "Who do YOU say that I am?" Peter, Mr. Everyman of the gospel pipes up, "You're the Messiah, duh!" (I added the duh for effect. It's clear Peter is convinced.) And then Jesus "warned" them not to tell anyone about him.
The Messiah is a big deal in Roman-occupied Jerusalem. Most of the people thought he would come and liberate captives and smash the rod of the taskmaster. The Messiah is an epic hero, one who saves his people from the oppressors with a sword in hand.
Jesus dashes their hopes for the God-like hero. He doesn't have a sword beneath his tunic. In fact he says, "Guys, I'm HUMAN. And what's more, the entire Jewish establishment, the chief priests, the elders and the scribes are going to reject me. I'm going to suffer, be killed and then rise after three days." OK, so he gives them a little hope for the whole liberation thing with the rising from the dead part.
Peter pulls Jesus aside and says, "Man, this can't be true. You're not going to suffer and die!" That's when Jesus utters the much-quoted phrase, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." Duh. Jesus is always stating the obvious.
What maybe isn't as obvious in this story is in the middle of Jesus' explanation of the Messiah's fate. The establishment will reject this Messiah. He upsets the status quo in a big way, telling people that the only thing truly necessary for salvation is to love your neighbor as yourself. No sacrificing doves or goats in the temple. (And boy, the shekels spent on those sacrifices are very important to the chief priests of the establishment.)
So what do I take from this? It is important to question the establishment. I don't do it enough. I regret my support our invasion of Iraq. I didn't ask enough questions.
Now, I'm not saying I agree with what Mr. Chavez had to say. I'm saying I am thinking about loving my neighbor, in Venezuela and Iraq. Not quite sure how to do that, but I believe it's my responsibility to try.
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