Weekly thoughts on the Sunday Gospel, readings or a topic...

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seeing your life through the lens of the gospels – Mark 8:27-35
1. ‘Who do you say that I am?’ Imagine Jesus putting this question to you. How would you answer it? How would you answer it, not in words taken from a catechism or textbook, but from your own experience of the significance of Jesus in your life? What does Jesus mean to you? What does his gospel message mean to you?
2. Jesus went on to teach his disciples that following him would be hard at times. There would be a price to pay. Perhaps you also have found that imitating the love and compassion of Jesus is not an easy road? Nor does it come easy to have the constant trust in God that Jesus had. Yet Jesus tells us that this is the way to life. Would you agree?
3. There is a natural human tendency to shy away from what is painful or difficult. Yet if that is our standard pattern of behaviour, we will not get far in reaching our potential. We will never find who we are capable of being. When have you found it worthwhile to face difficulties, persevere, ‘carry your cross’ for a while to achieve some goal that was important to you? 
– John Byrne, OSA

The Deep End
In the second reading today from St James we read, ‘What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works?’ And in our Gospel reading we hear: ‘The way you think is not God’s way but man’s...’. These are challenging texts which remind us to reflect on what path we are walking as followers of Jesus. Jesus’ path was radically different to what people of his time expected of a Messiah. It was a path that would lead to much sacrifice. Being a Christian today means following Jesus’ example, being counter-cultural and making sacrifices for a greater good.
During the Season of Creation, we are called to explore our relationship with nature, God’s creation. Pope Francis reminds us in Laudato Si’ - On Care for Our Common Home that ‘We are not God’ (LS, 67). He challenges us to re-examine our vocation to care for creation. In the past we misinterpreted God’s words in Genesis to mean that we could have dominion over all of creation, own it and plunder it for our own use. Pope Francis invites us instead to explore our role as carers of creation and reminds us that the very first commandment we were ever given was to be protectors of this beautiful world.
Yet, we know the earth cries out to us and that we are living through the sixth mass extinction of life on this earth due to human activity. Ecosystems are collapsing; biodiversity is in crisis. Laudato Si’ is a hope-filled document, reminding us that we can set out on a new path, that we are capable of turning things around. One key action each of us can take this Season of Creation is to plant a native Irish tree. Each parish, diocese, family, school, university can engage in this symbolic action to help Restore Our Common Home. This week, gather two or three people and explore what can be done, mindful that our Gospel today urges us to walk God’s ways not man’s.  – Jane Mellett

(from Intercom)