Text: Matthew 16:21-23

In the name of the one true God and the mediation of our hearts. Amen.

Life and death are not easy to talk about but this is a topic we will address in our gospel today. We heard in Matthew’s gospel that, Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hand of the elders, chief priest, and scribes. He will be killed and on the third day be raised. Peter, in shock, pulls Jesus aside and tries to talk him out of going. However, Jesus snaps back at Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." (NRSV, Matt.16:21- 23).

Peter and the disciples must have felt as if they had been hit with a curve ball that came out of nowhere. But the thing is, they were not ready to catch this one and Peter drops the ball like a hot potato. It is difficult to endure suffering. “An accident, an illness, the death of someone close to us can threaten to throw us into grief and fear carrying the potential of possibilities that can even incapacitate us. In some cases, how we suffer speaks volumes about our understanding of our own faith capacity and our understanding of God” because we can become our own stumbling block and impede the potential of our spiritual growth (copied and adapted, “Emphasis” July/August 2008, p.61)

We all have endured some type of separation or loss from someone or something dear to us: the loss of a pet; loss of a home; saying good-bye to someone moving away; children leaving for college; or taking your little one to kindergarten for the first time. Events like these are perhaps likely to cause emotional trauma and a sense of uneasiness. These are the times when we want protection for ourselves and for those we love. In some of these instances, it is hard to let go and yet we have to give permission or receive permission in order to let to go.

We can expect many difficult life changes to occur. Additionally, whether these changes are known or unknown, they can still result in feelings of anxiety; fear; despair; pain and depression. Embracing change is a part of life’s reality. Change is not easy to grasp or understand especially when we do not like it or want to face the difficulties.

What we hear in Peter’s rebuke to Jesus is shock and despair. He tells Jesus, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." The thought of Jesus’ death and suffering is more than Peter can comprehend and accept. I remember the dreadful night my grandmother had a sudden heart attack. I prayed to God with every ounce of faith in me, “If you call her home to you, I will understand.” Early the next morning the hospital called and gave us the news of her death. In my anguish, I cried to God that she was not supposed to die. I was angry with God for taking her from me. I felt empty and my life changed forever.

On the emotional level, I was crying out with devastating pain and yet the rational side of me knew that people did not live forever because we are mortal. I did a flip-flop just like Peter who had previously told Jesus that he was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God and then later tries to block and prevent Jesus from carrying out his full ministry that includes suffering, humiliation, crucifixion, and death. Peter and the rest of the disciples were not be prepared for this news. It changed all of their perceptions and expectations of their long awaited leader. Peter was horrified hearing this news because he had not counted on such mishaps and changes of this nature to happen to their Master and friend.

In their own turmoil, perhaps the disciples forgot that the Messiah, Jesus was standing before them in human form but had a divine nature as well. It just did not seem to register with Peter that Jesus also told them he would be raised on the third day. This was and is joyous news. I think they forgot that witnessing Jesus healing the sick and raising others to life from death was miraculous. I think we also forget the miraculous things God has done in our own lives. We see that Jesus was not promised an easy life in his earthly journey and public ministry. The disciples will not fully understand how their lives will change until the revelation of Jesus’ death. Jesus understands that in order to prepare them, he will need to explain more than once that his ministry will and must include his death and resurrection. The disciples will not fully understand Jesus the Messiah until after his resurrection.

Exactly one year ago, I watched my mother as she lay dying. A bright and radiant light seemed to cover her face. This was something I had not seen during the entire time that she was ill. However, on this particular night, the night before she died, she looked beautiful and not sick at all with this bright glow. What I learned from that experience was that my mother had said yes to God and was ready to return to her creator. Her eyes lovingly said good-bye to me that night. Early the following morning after she died I anointed her feet with oil I noticed her previously swollen legs and feet had returned to their normal size in preparation for her journey home to God.

Today, on this first anniversary of her death and new life without me, I learned that my faith has grown and deepened with an understanding that in death there is life that never fades. There was a time where I was my own stumbling block impeding my faith to grow. The loss of the three most important people in my life has deepened my faith over time and brought me a sense of peace. The pain of their physical absence used to cut me to my core as I struggled to adjust to not seeing them anymore. Of course, I miss them.

However, I now understand that my mother, father and grandmother have never completely left me. I know most assuredly that their souls live on in me everyday. I feel their love and their presence daily because of the promise of Jesus who gives us victory over death. They live on eternally because Christ lives eternally. This is the Good News…it is with immeasurable love that Jesus gave his life as a sacrifice for us to have eternal life. Thank goodness, Jesus was not deterred from his journey to Jerusalem.

We are called to remember that it is with immeasurable love that God’s presence is with us even when things are just not going well in our lives and when we are encountering challenging circumstance in our lives.
We are called to remember that we are blessed with the divine love of Jesus who offers us unending power of the Holy Spirit today. Henry J.M. Nouwen wrote in A Letter of Consolation, divine love that resides within enables us to live the promised life of the risen Christ because love is stronger than death. It is God’s love and the Spirit of the risen Christ that opens our eyes to see and experience the power of the Holy Spirit and all that is visible as Jesus shows us the wondrous love he calls for us to enter more fully with God and with each other the love which give us eternal life.

Let us pray:

In all its beauty, our creation groans.
It is the hallmark of life and living that there is
Sorrow in the world.
Help us to see in this struggle for living
Not death-throes, but birth pangs:
Not endings, but beginnings.
In suffering, let us see the promises for the future
As the outcry against desolation in the present.
In that honest protest, is the dawn of new justice.
Just as the Cross brings the hope of resurrection.
In suffering, are the seeds of joy,
Hidden from our gaze.
Though we cry…,
No waste or frustration is too great for Christ
To be turned into that which blesses.
No suffering so deep, Christ gives no life…
In God who gives abundant life.
(copied and adapted from www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship)

Amen.