Reflections on Matthew 14:22- 16:28
The readings for the first half of this week are all over the map. We read about miracles, Jesus walking on water and feeding the four thousand. We read Jesus teaching and particularly the first time that Jesus mention he will have to die. We read about the great faith of the Canaanite woman juxtaposed Peter's lack faith as he steps out of the boat. We read about Peter's great proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of the living God and then then quickly followed by his rebuke of Jesus that we will not allow Jesus to die.
Perhaps though, in all the drama and excitement what caught my attention is Jesus rebuke to Peter. "Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting you mind not on divine things, but on human things." Stunning words coming from the lips of our savior.
Throughout this section of readings, I see a lot of folks setting their mind on human things. Peter can't imagine that God's plan might include Jesus death. The Pharisees and Sadducees demand to see signs from heaven. Where have they been? The disciple can't imagine how on God's green earth Jesus is going to feed four thousand people with such meager resources. Hadn't they just watched him feed five thousand with five loaves and two fishes?
I wonder where we miss seeing signs from heaven because we have our noses to the ground unable to imagine that God might actually be doing miracles in our midst. Might these reading be challenging us to open our eyes to the divine things all around us? Where has the kingdom of God broken in to your life this week?
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