GET BEHIND ME, SATAN…

James 2:1-9

1 My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.2 For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,
3 and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while you say to the poor man, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brethren. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you, is it not they who drag you into court?
7 Is it not they who blaspheme that honorable name which was invoked over you? 8 If you really fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Mark 8:27-33

27 And Jesus went on with his disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others one of the prophets.”
29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”
30 And he charged them to tell no one about him. 31 And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men.”  

MEDITATION

St JAMES respond to feedback that the poorest of the poor were not treated with dignity by their fellow brethren and their pastors. Generally speaking, the poor are always content to take the lower seat, because they count themselves less worthy and don’t mind to eat the crumbs that fall from the table, whereas the infamous rich and powerful wants to be seen, feared and applauded because they hold sway over the less fortunate whom they defame and reference as the “deplorables!” 

Catec 544 The kingdom belongs to the poor and lowly, which means those who have accepted it with humble hearts. Jesus is sent to “preach good news to the poor”; he declares them blessed, for “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”… Jesus shares the life of the poor, from the cradle to the cross; he experiences hunger, thirst and privation. Jesus identifies himself with the poor of every kind and makes active love toward them the condition for entering his kingdom.

THE GOSPEL READING: Jesus confront the apostles to elicit if they knew who He truly is versus what they have heard from the hoi polloi. By divine inspiration, Peter correctly identify that Christ is indeed the Messiah that the Hebrew people have been waiting for. Upon hearing Christs prophecy that details His; arrest, suffering, death and ressurection on the third day, Peter unthinkingly rebuke our Lord in the sense that he was not going to allow such a dastardly act to take place under his watch!

Whilst Peters concern and defence of our Lord is very apparent, he did not discern the revelation that Christ was to conquer death such that Satan used him as a tool to prevent Christ from fulfilling His mission. Our Lord identified the instigator of Peters imprudence and instantly rebuked Satan! Those of us who have been illuminated and gifted with wisdom and resources are called to step into the breach to defend and protect the unschooled, poor and vulnerable whom the powerful elite wish to trample upon, with ill conceived oppresive dictates and mandates that appose the sanctity of human life as taught by the Catholic Church!

LET US PRAY: Psalms 34:2-7
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.