Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ; the Holy Priest-Martyr Ignatius the Godbearer (110).
Nativity Fast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
Hebrews 10:1-18; Mark 8:30-34.
Read Mark 8:30-34
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Today’s gospel reading is better understood when we remember the verses which precede it. Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” (Mk. 8:27), and then, “But who do you say that I am?” (Mk. 8:29). Peter answers Him saying, “You are the Christ” (Mk. 8:29). In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus responds to this confession by saying, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:17-18).
Today’s passage continues on the heels of Peter’s confession in Mark’s gospel. In Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s gospel accounts, after Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, Jesus “commands” or “strictly warns” His disciples not to tell this to anybody (see Mt. 16:20, Mk. 8:30, and Lk. 9:21). Then, Jesus teaches them of everything the Son of Man must suffer. Afterwards, this same Peter who acclaimed Jesus as the Messiah rebukes Jesus, causing Jesus to rebuke him in return saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (Mk. 8:33).
Peter went from being praised and called “blessed” to being addressed as “Satan” just four verses later. Jesus, being God incarnate, knew Peter’s weaknesses and sinfulness. On the night He was betrayed, Jesus knew that Peter would deny Him three times before the cock crowed. In spite of all this which was to happen in the future, Peter was still the one to whom Jesus said, “on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18).
Our relationship with God ought to be focused on God’s love for us and not on our own sinfulness. God knows we are sinners, but He loves us anyway. He wants to save us from our sins and transform us. He always extends the gift of His forgiveness to us in order to restore us to wholeness. When we fall into sin, how quickly can we learn to stand back up again and run back to Christ in repentance? As we use these next days to finish preparing ourselves to celebrate the Nativity of Christ, let us reflect on our relationship with Him. Are we mindful of the things of God or of the things of men?