THE VOICE 5

THE VOICE
CATHOLIC HOLY SCRIPTURE GROUP
COTABATO CITY


“COME…Let us make a Difference”
Matthew 16:21-28

Bro. Bong Lozano
August 30, 2008


Here Jesus predicts His death and He is telling the apostles and disciples about His suffering, death, and resurrection, His Paschal Mystery.
After Jesus spoke to the disciples Peter human as Jesus, “That must not happen to you and Jesus said, Peter,” rebukes himGet away from me Satan! You are an obstacle in my way, because these thoughts of yours don’t come from God but from human nature”.
Let us scrutinized the words of Jesus in verse 22, “get away from me Satan…you are an obstacle in my way…the thoughts of yours do not come from God…” Here Jesus rebukes Satan the prince of darkness the angel who rebelled against God. Satan is always and will be forever an obstacle, a hindrance, barrier, block, obstruction, stumbling block, an interruption in our daily life.
Let me name some of the blocks or obstruction to Gods will: Sin, unforgiveness, lack of sacraments, lack of reparation and occult practices. The block called sin there are Seven Deadly Sins according to the church magisterium. They are Pride an exaggerated opinion of ones own worth. Avarice an immoderate desire for earthly goods. Lust a desire for impure pleasure. Anger an inordinate feeling or expression of displeasure. Gluttony intemperate use of food or drink. Envy jealousy over the good fortune of our neighbor. Sloth laziness or carelessness in doing right and in practicing virtue, because of the necessary efforts attached to it. (Outlines of the Catholic Faith page 35)
As Jesus called Satan, the obstacle in His ways these Seven Deadly Sins are not from God but of human nature. What this human nature is as stated in the Holy Scripture? The letter of Paul to Galatians 5:19-21 described human nature as immoral acts, Filthy and Indecent actions, Idolatry, Witchcraft, Feuds, Jealousy, Anger, Quarrels, Ambitious, Factions, Envy, Drunkenness, Orgies. Those who DO these things WILL NOT POSSESS the KINGDOM OF GOD.




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Jesus tells us that in following Him there will be obstacles that the disciples will experience. The Second Letter of Paul to Corinthians 11:23-29 says that he suffered a lot as an apostle of Jesus. He experienced: imprisonment, whipped, lashed, stoned, shipwrecks, drowned in water, danger in water, danger in floods, danger in wild, danger in the sea, danger from falls friends, toils, sleepless, hunger, thirsty, without enough food, without shelter, without clothing, under pressure, weakness, distress.
As a disciple, a follower of Jesus we are open to experience all of these sufferings in our day-to-day lives.
Matthew 8:18-22, “Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lie down and rest and Jesus said “Follow Me” and “Let the dead bury their own dead” In Luke 14:33, “None of you can be my disciple unless you give up everything you have”
It is not easy to be a follower of Jesus. It is not easy to be a disciple of Jesus. There are conditions in following the master: 1.)Dying of self, Mt. 19:29”And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters of father or mother or children or fields for my sake, will receive a hundred times more and will be given eternal life” “You must FORGET YOURSELF” 2.) Carrying of ones crosses in life, “If any of you must forget yourself, Carry your cross and Follow me”Mt.16:24. 3) Follow Jesus. As we follow, we become disciple of Jesus. In addition, as we become disciples of Jesus we have to: 1) Be wherever Jesus is. Mk.3:13-14, Mt.15:30, 32, Mt.12:15, Mk.1:17-18. 2) Hear and Listen to Him, Mt.15:10, Jn.8:47. 3) Be Obedient to Him, Mt.7:24, Mt.28:20, Lk.11:28.
Let us remember, Jesus said, “…and then He will Reward each one according to His Deeds”Mt.16:27. As we follow Jesus, let us LISTEN to Him and OBEY Him. He will reward us. We will inherit the kingdom of God, 2Pt.1:11, Lk.12:32. In James 1:17, “So it is with Faith; if it is alone and includes NO ACTIONS, then it is DEAD”. The letter of James 3:24 say, “…it is our actions that we are put right with God and NOT by our FAITH ALONE”. In addition, in James 2:26, “So then as the body with out the spirit is dead, also Faith without Actions is dead”. Give to others and God will give to you. In deed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping poured into your hands all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you” Lk.6:38.
In following Jesus, we have to Listen and Obey Him. “Go through out the world and preach the Gospel to all creation” Mark 16:15. The disciples where COMMISSIONED to PREACH and HEAL. “Believers will be given the POWER to PERFORM MIRACLES…they will Place their hands on sick people and these will GET WELL” Mk.16:17-18. The disciples where given the AUTHORITY and POWER OVER EVERY CREATURE in the world.
“In following Jesus it costs nothing, but it means everything. Loosing the world, but gaining the kingdom, God has promised”.
Jesus said, “COME, FOLLOW ME” and I say to you, “COME LET US MAKE A DIFFERENCE”.

Bro. Bong Lozano