Before this Gospel reading we hear, “Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”23p 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.”
And that is the problem with many of us. We focus on this world and avoiding conflict and loss and fear what happen here. Jesus is asking his disciples and us to focus on eternal life.
When we compromise or do not live according to Gods will we are putting this life and its demands ahead of God and his commandments. We are trading eternal life for temporary relief in this life. It’s a poor trade and we lose in the end. We cannot cling to things of this life but must hold onto the teachings of Christ or we will forfeit our eternal life.
We are called to do our best in this world to love God and others. When we do this we will find we must put this worlds priorities and fears and anxieties second to the commandments of God. There is not room for compromising or delay. Our time is now to align our life with his life and be ready. Our end could be today. We
May face Jesus in the next moment. How are we doing? Are we ready?
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
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?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,
and then he will repay each according to his conduct.
Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here
who will not taste death
until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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