His Mother Stood at the Cross

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:25-27)

Mary at the foot of the cross stood as mother, servant and the "number one fan" of Christ.

In pain, Mary sees everything that happened to her Son.  Can a human pain endure this suffering--- a mother seeing her Son dragged without mercy, chained, ridiculed, insulted, condemned, scourged, accused falsely, made to carry the cross where he stumbled under it, and being crucified and left to die?   Who would endure it seeing your beloved with wounds all over, looking less than a man, suffering in great agony while having a bad reputation and shame around him?  Indeed, Mary is a strong woman with a heart stronger than a man, bravely suffering with and for Christ.

If the motherly instinct is to feel pain on her breast when a child of hers is sick or suffering, how much more will be the suffering of Mary when her Son is dying before her?  Surely, this pain will mean a lot as Simeon foretold, it is a sharp sword that pierces her heart.

Mary stood as if telling Christ: "I am with you."  She willingly joined with Christ out of love of him and also out of obedience to the Father's will.  Her fiat continued at the foot of the cross.  She surrendered herself to the will of God and for her Son.

She is also a servant when he joined Christ who" came to serve and not to be served".  She is one with Christ's service to all men.  She participates in Christ's redemption.  She also wills that all men be saved.  And in the Lord's Passion, she is also there with Jesus--- redeeming with him , for him and in him.  I have reflected also that Mary also suffered for me in oneness with Christ.  I was also a part of her pains.  My sins caused her to suffer a lot.  She is a servant of love for me.

She is a "number one fan" of Jesus.  If a child graduated, or received an award or won in a contest, the mother is the "number one fan".  She will be there even though she will be the only one standing.  She will be the first one to clap her hands.

At the foot of the cross, though the rest of the disciples left except John and Mary Magdalene, Mary stood.  She must be proud how her Son made all things new through his death.  If Christ is victor on the cross, Mary shares and celebrates his victory.

As I imitate Christ and follow on the footsteps of Christ, Mary is there as my mother, servant and my "number one fan".  She stood by me in joy and in pain.  Since Christ entrusted her to me as my mother.  In my sorrows, sufferings, continuous bearing of the cross, she is with me, following Christ with me and also saying to me: "I am here!"  In the process of death to myself, in times of pain, Mary stays with me, enduring the pain with me.  

If I have God as my father, I have Mary as my mother.  She always sings her oyayi, her lullaby as I continue to follow Christ.

The Death of the Lord in Our Hearts

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:14-17)

The death of the Lord tells me that this is the price of my sins.  I cannot atone for my sins.  No matter what I do, I cannot hope for forgiveness for a single sin has infinite value and I have committed a lot including grave ones.

Christ has put an end to my sins through his death.. Christ though innocent has put an end to my slavery to sin and gave strength to my frail human nature.  Christ allowed me to partake in his suffering through my own sufferings.  As St. Paul says: I fill up in my own flesh what is still lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of his body, the Church. (Collossians 1:24)

In the sacrament of reconciliation, I receive the forgiveness of God through Christ.  I receive the fruits of Christ's suffering.  As I approach this sacrament and receive the absolution, Christ once again "renew" his atonement on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins.  In the Eucharist, I receive the same Body and Blood of Christ which he offered on the cross.  I also receive his salvation.  Since Christ lives in me now, he will take care of me.  He will make me into a new creation, heal me and supply me with every good thing much more than I expect.

In baptism, I experience his death and resurrection.  I died with him and rose with him.  Baptism is a sign of uniting myself with him.  In baptism, I am cleansed in my life of sin through Christ's Paschal Mystery.  So there is a need for me to back on the dignity of my baptism so that I may again become a new creation in Christ.

The death of the Lord tells me that all is done.  My sins are gone.  My pasts are healed. My old life is being lead to new.  Because the death of Jesus is a passage for his glory and the cross of Christ is a bridge to grace.

The death of the Lord invites me to love myself the way God loves me as expressed in his death.  If God loves me so much, I must also love myself boundlessly.  It is not love of self which is self centered and by which the Lord forbids.  Rather, it is a humble love.  I love myself out of humility because in my unworthiness, Christ has chosen to love me to the point of dying for me.  I must love myself according to the will of God.  Because love of self leads to the love of neighbor.  Christ says that I must love my neighbor as myself.  Without this true love of self, I can never love others.

Refusal to love myself means an insult to God who loves me.  All my discouragements, sins, weaknesses and failures are redeemed by Christ.  Christ took them all and now he is with me to carry this things.  Why can I refuse myself forgiveness when God has already forgiven me?  Why will I resort to self-pity when God has shown mercy?

The death of the Lord also means death to all the things that enslaves me--- the obstacles in living to my consecration.  His death means death to the world, death to the flesh, death to my myself.  Christ's passion has infinite value, if I unite myself to it, I attain it's richness although I am nothing.  Christ can do wonders for me if I just hold fast to him.

To unite myself to Christ means suffering like him--- taking up his cross and following him.  Dying on my own  cross like him.  It is painful but it becomes sweeter when I keep on thinking that I am with Christ and through all of this, I make things new for Christ.  Like him, I become a source of strength for the Church , for sufferings have great power if it is united with Christ.  It is only through the cross where he could transform my painful wounds into glorious wounds.

As I observe the crucifix and paintings of the Lord's passion, it is commonly depicted that Jesus is not a person to be pitied.  Rather, they express Christ as victorious.  In the Gospels, Jesus is not seen as a "man of sorrows".  He is seen as victorious on the account of soldiers falling on the ground when they asked if he is Jesus, on talking to Pilate as an equal,   speaking to the High Priest with similar authority, on never complaing of any suffering he endured.  This is what must change in my attitude towards the cross--- as I take it up, I am already victorious, in my death with Christ on the cross, I am assured of victory.

You are My Mother

No one can be devoted to you Mama Mary unless he sees you as a real person.  Only those who experince you as their real mother here on earth can pray to you with sincere devotion.  And only he who feels that you love him can express his love joyfully.

Thank you O for as my mother, you bore in me in your womb so that I may be reborn again in the Spirit.  Thank you for as my mother, you gave birth to me so that I may see the light.  Thank you for nourishing me and taking good care of me.  I will be helpless without you.  Thank you for raising me and taking good care of me so that I may be for the glory of God, my Father.

Thank you for in the illnesses of my soul, you heal me.  Thank you for in times that I am astray, you receive my poor soul.  Thanks for being my teacher.  Thank you for your effort to make this sinner into an apostle configured to Christ.  Thank you for not giving up on me, for praying and working for the conversion of the hardened sinners who are ungrateful for the love of your Son.  Thank you for indeed, those who approach you are filled with your fruits.

I am so assailed by my enemies.  I feel so weak, sometimes I feel giving up for I find myself helpless.  Thank you for being there.  I am so unworthy to face Christ without you. Thank you for showing to me how much God loves me.  And thank you for consoling and strengthening me.

You are my Mother.  If I will be mindful of this, I will not be distressed or be fearful.  You are my real Mother. All you do is to offer me to Christ and nothing else.  In you, my vocation began.  And it is you that helps me as I submit myself to be formed for the glory of God, my Father.  Help me so that I can be his true servant of love. 

Pagpapatawad Katulad ng Pagpapatawad ng Diyos

    

 ²²Sinabi ni Jesus sa kaniya: Sinasabi ko sa iyo na hindi lamang makapito kundi hanggang makapitumpung pitong ulit. 

²¹Lumapit si Pedro sa kaniya at sinabi: Panginoon, makailang ulit bang magkasala sa akin ang aking kapatid at siya ay aking patatawarin? Hanggang sa makapito ba? ²²Sinabi ni Jesus sa kaniya: Sinasabi ko sa iyo na hindi lamang makapito kundi hanggang makapitumpung pitong ulit. ²³Ito ay sapagkat ang paghahari ng langit ay katulad sa isang hari na ibig maningil sa kaniyang mga alipin. ²⁴Nang magsimula na siyang maningil, iniharap sa kaniya ang isa na may utang sa kaniya ng sampung libong talento. ²⁵Ngunit sa dahilang wala siyang maibayad, iniutos ng kaniyang panginoon na ipagbili siya, gayundin ang kaniyang asawa, mga anak at lahat ng kaniyang tinatangkilik upang makabayad.

   

 ²⁶Ang alipin nga ay lumuhod at sinamba siya na sinasabi: Panginoon, pagpasensyahan mo muna ako at babayaran kita sa lahat ng utang ko. ²⁷Kaya ang panginoon ng aliping iyon ay nahabag at pinawalan siya at pinatawad ang kaniyang utang.

 ²³Ito ay sapagkat ang paghahari ng langit ay katulad sa isang hari na ibig maningil sa kaniyang mga alipin. ²⁴Nang magsimula na siyang maningil, iniharap sa kaniya ang isa na may utang sa kaniya ng sampung libong talento. ²⁵Ngunit sa dahilang wala siyang maibayad, iniutos ng kaniyang panginoon na ipagbili siya, gayundin ang kaniyang asawa, mga anak at lahat ng kaniyang tinatangkilik upang makabayad. 

 ²⁸Ngunit paglabas ng alipin ding iyon, nakita niya ang kaniyang kapwa alipin na may utang sa kaniya ng isangdaang denaryo. Hinawakan niya ito at sinakal na sinabi: Bayaran mo ang utang mo sa akin. 

²⁹Ang kaniyang kapwa alipin ay nagpatirapa sa kaniyang paanan. Nagmakaawa siya sa kaniya na sinasabi: Pagpasensyahan mo ako at babayaran kita sa lahat ng utang ko.

 ³⁰Ngunit ayaw niyang pumayag. Sa halip, ipinabilanggo niya ito hanggang sa makabayad ng kaniyang utang. ³¹Kaya nang makita ng mga kapwa niya alipin ang nangyari, labis silang namighati. Lumapit sila sa kanilang panginoon at sinabi sa kaniya ang lahat ng nangyari.

³²Kaya, nang maipatawag na siya ng kaniyang panginoon, sinabi sa kaniya: O, ikaw na masamang alipin, pinatawad ko ang lahat mong pagkakautang dahil nagmakaawa ka sa akin. ³³Hindi ba nararapat na mahabag ka rin sa iyong kapwa alipin katulad nang pagkahabag ko sa iyo? ³⁴Sa matinding galit ng kaniyang panginoon, ibinigay siya sa mga tagapagpahirap sa bilangguan hanggang sa mabayaran niya ang lahat ng kaniyang utang.

³⁵Gayundin naman ang gagawin sa inyo ng aking Ama na nasa langit kapag hindi kayo nagpatawad nang taos sa inyong puso sa bawat kapatid sa kanilang pagsalangsang. (Mateo 18)

Napakadaling sabihin na gusto nating magpatawad subalit kapag dumarating ang mga sitwasyong mabibigat, makikita nating mahirap.  Mahirap makipagkasundo sa isang dating kaibigan na kung saan nagkaroon ng lamat ang inyong pagsasamahan.  Mahirap pansinin ang isang taong alam mong galit o may hinanakit pa saiyo. Mahirap maibalik ulit sa dati ang pagtitinginan kung may nararramdaman ka pang kabigatan ng loob.

Alam ni Hesus iyan.  Kaya't nagkakaroon tayo ng merito kung pinipilit o sinisikap nating gawin ito kahit na mahirap. Kahit na medyo di pa rin tayo at ease sa isang tao o medyo may hinanakit pa rin.  Ang importante para sa kanya ay ang ating paggawa ng mabuti.  Since Christianity is not about feelings.  It is about making correct decisions.

Sa Ebanghelyo natin ay tinatong ni Pedro si Hesus kung ilang beses dapat magpatawad.  Ang mga Pariseo noon ay naniniwalang hanggang tatlo lamng ang kapatawaran.  Ang kautusan ni Moises ay naninindigan sa kasabihang eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.  Sinabi ni Hesus na: Unless your holiness surpasses the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Mateo 5:20) Kaya't Lumapit si Pedro sa kaniya at sinabi: Panginoon, makailang ulit bang magkasala sa akin ang aking kapatid at siya ay aking patatawarin? Hanggang sa makapito ba? Akala ni Pedro ay natalo na niya ang Pariseo sa kabanalan.  At akala niya ito ang pinakatamang gawin dahil ang pito ay nangangahulugan ng pagiging buo o kumpleto.  Subalit, higit pa ang nais ni Hesus.  Di lamng buo o perpekto subalit higit pa. Sinasabi ko sa iyo na hindi lamang makapito kundi hanggang makapitumpung pitong ulit. 

Sinasabi sa Ebanghelyo na tayong lahat ay nagkakautang ng malaki sa Diyos subalit minsan ay di tayo sinisingil. At sino naman tayo para hindi palampasin ang pagkakautang sa atin ng ating kapwa?  Parang mali yata. Dahil madalas nating tingnan ang kasalanan ng iba subalit hindi natin pinapansin ang ating kasalanan sa  Diyos na lubhang mas malaki at marami.

Ano kaya ang mangyayari sa mundong walang pagpapatawad?  Walang hanggang gulo. Walang hanggang paghihirap at kaguluhan.  Sa linggong ito ay ipinagdiriwang natin ang Dekadang Anibersaryo ng 9/11 attack sa World Trade Center ng Estados Unidos.  Pagkatapos ng sampung taon, naparusahan na ang mga nagkasala.  Hindi pinatawad ng mundo at ng gobyerno ang mga responsable sa terorismong ito.  Nagkaroon ng giyera sa Iraq. Patay na si Osama Bin Laden.  Subalit, may nangyari ba? Di ba natatakot ang Estados Unidos na muling  lumaban uli ang Al-Qaeda?  Di ba bantay-sarado ang magkakalabang bansa? Di ba, huwag sanang ipahintulot ng Diyos, pero nagbabanta ang digmaan sa magkakalabang bansa?

Ang nabubuhay sa tabak ay sa tabak mamamatay. (Mateo 26:52) Marahil totoo ito sa sitwasyon natin ngayon.  Kapag di tayo natututo magpatawad ay mamamatay tayo sa galit at ito ay paulit-ulit lamang. Sinasabi na kapag di ka nagpatawad, ikaw ay humahawak sa blade ng kutsilyo at isinasaksak mo sa iba nag handle nito.  Nasasaktan nga ang iyong sinasaksak subalit ikaw ang mas nasusugatan sa patuloy mong paghawak sa blade.  Patuloy kang masusugatan dahil sa di ka malaya at patuloy kang nakakulong sa rehas ng galit at poot.

Si MOhandas Gandhi ay bantog sa kanyang Principle of Non-violence.  Dahil sa kanyang patuloy na pakikilaban, gamit ang walang karahasan.  Dahil sa kanyang maayos na pakikiusap at mapayapang pagproprotesta ay nakalaya ang India sa kamay ng mga Ingles.  Dito rin sa ating bansa, nakaalis tayo sa diktadurya dahil sa ating pagkakaisa na di gumagamit ng karahasan.  Noong EDSA Revolution, tayo ay nanindigan at natalo ng ating mga panalangin ang mga tangke ng sundalo.  Sa ngayon, kahit may mga problema pa rin tayo sa ekonomiya, sa lipunan at moralidad, ang aral na iyon ay nananatili at naging handog natin sa buong mundo.  

Hindi natin kailangan ang karahasan subalit ang pagpapatawad lamng ang siyang magbibigay ng tunay na kapayapaan.  Nawa'y ang aral na ito ay patuloy nating magamit sa pang-arawaraw na pangyayari sa ating buhay.

Ang Minimithi nating Simbahan

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesús sa kaniyáng mga alagad: “Kung magkasala sa iyo ang kapatid mo, puntahan mo siyá at kausapin nang sarilinan. Kapag nakinig siyá sa iyo, ang pagsasama ninyóng magkapatid ay napapanauli mo sa dati at napanunumbalik mo siyá sa Ama. Ngunit kung hindi siyá makinig sa iyo, magsama ka pa ng isa o dalawang tao upang ang lahát ng pinag-usapan ninyó ay mapatunayan ng dalawa o tatlong saksi. Kung hindi siyá makinig sa kanila, sabihin mo ito sa pagtitipon ng simbahan. At kung hindi pa siyá makinig sa natitipong simbahan, ituring mo siyáng Hentil o isang publikano. Sinasabi ko sa inyó: anumang ipagbawal ninyó sa lupa ay ipagbabawal sa langit, at anumang ipahintulot ninyó sa lupa ay ipahihintulot sa langit. Sinasabi ko pa rin sa inyó: kung ang dalawa sa inyó rito sa lupa ay magkaisa sa paghingi ng anumang bagay sa inyóng panalangin, ipagkakaloob ito sa inyó ng aking Amang nasa langit. Sapagkat saanman may dalawa o tatlong nagkakatipon dahil sa akin, naroon akóng kasama nila." (Mateo 18:15-20)

Naaalala ko noong PREX nang tinanong ako kung ano ang minimithi kong parokya o ano ang pangarap kong Simbahan.  Katulad ng iba ang aking sagot ay ang marami ang nagsisimba, marami ang miyembro ng Church organizations, aktibong pakikilahok ng mga kabataan at mabungang social services ng Simbahan sa mga dukha.  Sa Ebanghelyo sa linggong ito, parang gusto kong iredefine ang aking sagot base sa aking reflection sa mga sinabi ni Hesus.  Hindi sa hindi maganda ang mga sagot ko noon subalit nais ko lamang na itugma at mas malinaw ang aking mithiin para sa Santa Iglesia.

Kapag narinig natin ang salitang Iglesia, malimit nating isipin ay ang sekta na itinatag ni Felix Manalo.  Subalit, mas gagamitin ko ang salitang Iglesia kesa sa Simbahan sa post na ito dahil sa mas malinaw at mas malalim na kahulugan nito.  Ang salitang Iglesia ay galing sa salitang Griyego na Ekklesia, ibig sabihin ay pagtitipon o fellowship ng mga sumasampalataya.  Ang Simbahan kasi ay maaaring maging kahulugan lamang ay lugar na pinagtitipunan tuwing nagsisimba kahawig ng tindahan (lugar kung saan nagtitinda) o kainan (kung saan pwedeng kumain).  Maaari ring ang Simbahan ay maging kahulugan lamang ng isang partikular na gawain kahawig ng piyestahan (pagdiriwang ng piyesta) o bolahan (paglalaro ng bola).  Pero kapag sinabing Iglesia, pareho matatagpuan ang lugar, ang gawain, ang tao at ang purpose nito.

Ang minimithi ni Hesus para sa Iglesia ay ang pagkakasundo ng bawat miyembro.  Sinasabi niya na ayaw niyang mayroong pag-aaway away kung kaya't dapat ay may paguusap-usap.  Kung hindi nakinig ang isa ay kumuha ng saksi na siyang magiging arbitrer o tagapamayapa.  Kung hindi pa ay sa mas maraming tao o Iglesia.  Kung hindi pa ay tanggapin mo na lang ng bukal sa puso na ayaw niyang magbago o matagal pang panahon na magkakasundo kayo.

Minsan ay iba ang ginagawa natin.  Nariyan ang pintasan at tsismisan na sinasabi lang natin kapag wala ang tao na kung saan tayo ay may sama ng loob.  Kaya imbes na magkasundo ay lalong lumalala.  Minsan naman mas nalalaman pa ng ibang tao ang kapintasan niya kaysa sa kanya.  O minsan, di natin tinatanggap ng bukal sa puso ang ating kamalian o kinikimkim natin ang kanilang pagmamatigas.  Kung si Hesus kaya ay naririto ngayon, magiging masaya ba siya sa ating Iglesia?

Sa di pagkakasundo-sundo, nandun ang di pagkakaisa.  Sa di pagkakaisa ay walang katuparan ang lahat ng ating mga specific na kagustuhan para sa ating iglesia.

Ang ikalawang mithiin ni Hesus ay ang paggalang sa awtoridad o authority.  Sinasabi ko sa inyó: anumang ipagbawal ninyó sa lupa ay ipagbabawal sa langit, at anumang ipahintulot ninyó sa lupa ay ipahihintulot sa langit. Kapag di tayo pumapailalim sa iglesia na king saan tayo kabilang, magiging magulo ito.  Di ba dahil sa di pagpapailalim sa Simbahan, lumaganap ang iba't ibang relihiyon, sekta at kulto? Dahil din sa di pagpapailalim sa mga itinakda ng Diyos sa iglesia, lumalaganap ang atheismo at sekularismo sa mundo? Kaya dapat nandun ang palagi nating panalangin sa ating mga pinuno ng Simbahan na nawa'y sila ay maging mga modelo at mapangalagaan nila ng bayan ng Diyos ng mabuti.

Ikatlo ay ang pagsamba sa Diyos ng nararapat sa kanya.  Nawa'y matuwa ng Diyos sa pagbibigay natin ng karapatdapat na panalangin at sakripisyo.  Walang galit, walang pagkukunwari, dalisay at kalugodlugod.  At ang ikaapat ay ang presensiya ng Diyos sa kanyang bayan. Sapagkat saanman may dalawa o tatlong nagkakatipon dahil sa akin, naroon akóng kasama nila. Nawa'y maramdaman natin ang presensiya niya di lamang kung tayo ay nananalangin kundi tuwing tayo ay nagkakaisa sa ating paggawa ng lahat ng bagay para sa Diyos sa ating pang-araw-araw na buhay.

Huli ay ang ating patuloy na paghangad ng kabutihan para sa ating iglesia.  Sinasabi ko pa rin sa inyó: kung ang dalawa sa inyó rito sa lupa ay magkaisa sa paghingi ng anumang bagay sa inyóng panalangin, ipagkakaloob ito sa inyó ng aking Amang nasa langit.  Kung tayo ay patuloy na maghahangad at magtatrabaho para sa kabutihan ng lahat, ito ay ating matatamo.  Sapagkat sabi nga sa kasabihan "What the spirits desire, spirits attain."

Naghahangad ako na sana mas marami ang nagsisimba, mas marami ang miyembro ng Church organizations, mas aktibong pakikilahok ng mga kabataan at mabungang social services ng Simbahan sa mga dukha.  At ang mga ito ay matatamo lamang sa pagkakasundo at pagkakaisa nating mga miyembro ng Iglesia, paggalang sa awtoridad ng Iglesia, pagbibigay sa Diyos ng kalugudlugod sa kanya, ramdam na presensiya ng Diyos sa kanyang bayan at ang patuloy na paghahangad at pagtatrabaho para sa kabutihan ng lahat.

Think as God Thinks

21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
 ²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “God forbid, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
 ²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
 ²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. (Matthew 16)

I imagine what Jesus must have felt at this time.  He felt rejected by the scribes and the Pharisees as a Messianic impostor and the Romans as a threat,  the people and his disciples could not understand him and now, Peter suddenly turned against him! Jesus must have felt rejected by all.  Peter is not to be blamed.  Peter is just consoling Christ.  As a leader of the apostles, he wanted his master to be safe-- that nothing may harm him.  And he invokes the name of God. “God forbid, Lord!” he said. He seems to be doing an act of mercy --- consoling the sorrowing in the name of God.

However, Jesus calls him 'Satan'.  If we could recall, it was the same statement as he rebuked Satan during his temptation in the desert.  Get behind me, Satan!  Such a strong statement to a disciple who initially believes in him and now consoling him.  Peter must be thinking that he is doing a good thing in the name of God but in fact,  he is doing a thing contrary to the will of God.

Peter becomes a tempter like Satan in the sense that  God wills that Jesus should suffer but he contradicts it.  He does not want Jesus to suffer.  So, Peter unwillfully tempts Jesus not to obtain salvation for all men through suffering.  He becomes a stumbling block for Jesus and Jesus sees in him not his beloved apostle but Satan.

 How quick is Peter's change of heart!  In the last Sunday's gospel, he professed his faith in him as the Messiah.  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”(Matthew 16:16) And Peter calls him as a Rock on which his Church will be built.  After that is this Sunday's gospel wherein, Jesus foretells his passion and death.  In few minutes or even less, Jesus cursed Peter after giving him his blessing. 

In the same way, we are like Peter, who quickly closes our hearts to him after opening it to him fully.  We easily commit sins after doing good things.  We sometimes sin unwillingly like Peter.  Sometimes, we do things which we sometimes think as good but in itself contrary to God's will.  For example, we help the poor according to our own method but it is not according to what God wants.  Another example would be consoling others and telling them things which in fact making things worse.  We might reason out that we cannot sin because we do not have full knowledge but the effect of the sin is actually great and sometimes even greater than mortal sins.  Even greater because we might lead a person to sin.

For example, the advice that you might give to others which is good but actually out of context or cannot give a person a concrete solution might be followed.  The problem may get worse and may affect certain people as well.  And the effect of what you did may cause greater harm in the process, basically like a chain reaction producing infinite bad effects--- and this is because of your unmindful advice.

Let us also take the example of the story of Anna Manalastas in the popular TV series '100 Days to Heaven'.  She may believe that she is doing a right thing like saying harsh words to her employees in order for them to learn.  But she actually bring harm which produces a chain of evil effects to a lot of people.  Later will she knew that the 'cycle of rejection' continues and she finds herself on a difficult mission to stop it.

If we look at ourselves deeper, we might see how frightening are the effects of our actions might be.  Our little unmindful word or action causes a chain of ugly effects.  But we must not lose hope.  Peter remained close to Christ even though his thinking contrary to the will of God continues.  Peter contradicts Jesus' hatred for violence when he cut a soldier's ear during Jesus' arrest in the garden of Gethsemane.  He promised that he will be with Christ and die for him but he denied him thrice. Later even after Jesus' ascension, he ignored Jesus instructions to allow Gentiles to be one with the People of God.  But he remained the Rock which our Church stood.  In the midst of his frailty, he obtained strength to lead the God's holy people.

In the midst of our sins let us pray: Lord, I admit that I commonly think not according to your ways, I think not according to what you think. I acknowledge my frailty. So help me Lord.   Let me be submissive to your ways like a balloon blown by the wind to where the wind wills it to be.  Although I can never understand your will, help me to follow you.  May I never contradict your will.  In times that i do so, forgive me and let me stand up again with the strength of your Spirit.