The 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time | Sunday 3 September 2023

Today is Sunday the 3rd of September, beginning the 22nd week of Ordinary time.

One Hope Project sings, ‘Come Close’. How can you draw close to Jesus as you begin this time of prayer?

Come close
My heart is ready
Come close
My heart is here
Draw near I’m longing for You
Draw near
My love
All I’ve ever wanted
All I’ve ever wanted
All I’ve ever wanted is found in You
This moment is ours
I won’t rush away
Jesus


Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 16:21-27

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to 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.’

Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.

Jesus begins to let his disciples know the awful truth of the challenges ahead of him. Notice that he “begins to let (them) know”. Imagine how they must they be feeling, realising that they’re about to lose this precious friend…


Jesus refers to setting the mind on “divine things” rather than “human things”. What human things pull your mind away from God? And what divine things draw you closer to Him? Spend some time pondering on this.


As you hear the passage again, you might like to place yourself in the scene. You might choose to observe, or perhaps allow Jesus to address you too.

As this prayer time draws to a close, ask the Lord what he is asking of you. Let Him know your reaction. Talk plainly. God will give you a good hearing.


Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.