Readings for Sunday June 20th 2010

Readings for Sunday June 20th 2010 Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Compassion is your pain in my heart

Today’s Gospel reading has some very powerful statements from Jesus. Here Jesus uses words that are very difficult to misunderstand, conferring upon the Apostles and Simon personally, a responsibility to pass on His message until the end of time. But along with that responsibility would come much pain and sacrifice for the Apostles and for many who would follow.
It is true that we can honestly say that there would be no Christianity without a cross. And if we want to follow in Jesus’ footsteps then we would have to take up the cross. That’s the hard truth. Taking up the cross doesn’t mean coping well with sickness or bad luck. We take up the cross when we choose sacrifice we could avoid in order to help others.
Living as a Christian means choosing little sacrifices on a daily basis. Taking up the cross means giving up your life each day in little ways. You take up your cross when you help your mom without her asking you. You take up your cross when you reach out to the unpopular kid, the one sitting alone or being bullied.
Like Peter each day we must decide who we think Jesus is. We show that he is our Messiah when we choose to sacrifice for others. Oddly enough it is through these little sacrifices that we really save our own lives, and add to the lives of others.
IHN, tommy

Reading 1 Zechariah 12:10-11; 13:1

10 Thus says the LORD: I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and petition; and they shall look on him whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son, and they shall grieve over him as one grieves over a firstborn. 11 On that day the mourning in Jerusalem shall be as great as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo.
13-1 On that day there shall be open to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness.


Reading 2 Galatians 3:26-29

26 Brothers and sisters: Through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendant, heirs according to the promise.

Gospel Luke 9:18-24

18 Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” 21 He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. 22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” 23 Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”


Questions for Discussion:

1. Why does Jesus act so strongly to Peter?

2. What title does Jesus take on, and why?( see Dn. 7:13-14) 13 As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him,14 He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away; his kingship shall not be destroyed.

3. How would you paraphrase what Jesus says in verse 23?

4. Where does Jesus’ way conflict with your way?

5. What do you stand to lose by following Jesus? What do you stand to gain?


“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 1 Peter 3:15