You are not thinking as God does…
February 16, 2023
Dear Family of Mary!
This is the Gospel for Mass today:
Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.
He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Mk 8:27-33)
I always marvel at this Gospel. Jesus is walking with His disciples and teaching them along the way. All of of sudden he asks them two questions. The first is “Who do people say that I am?” This is a general question. What are people saying about me? But the second one is directly to them: “But who do you say that I am?” Peter gets it right: “You are the Christ.”
But then as they continue walking Jesus tells them what it will mean for Him to be the Christ. He will suffer greatly, be rejected, be killed, and then rise on the third day. Of course they were probably all stunned. But Peter speaks up again, actually rebuking Jesus for having such an idea!
Peter gets put in his place, “Get behind me Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” What a teaching moment for all the disciples. And for us! God’s ways are not our ways. We can never assume that we are thinking like God. Our goals are short term. We think mostly in terms of this life. We judge by human standards.
But the life of Christ we have been given in the Gospels will help us to think as God thinks! And that way of thinking is absolutely mind-blowing! It has a logic that comes from outside our human experience. Just read the Beatitudes! They turn our human logic upside down!
Our Lady gave us a long but beautiful message in which she encourages us to read the Gospels. She wants us to think as her Son thinks! She wants us to know Jesus so well that we will carry Him to others.
November 2, 2019
“Dear children,
my beloved Son always prayed
and glorified the Heavenly Father.
He always said everything to Him
and trusted in His will.
This is what you, my children, should also do,
because the Heavenly Father always listens to His children.
One heart in one heart – love, light and life.
The Heavenly Father gave Himself through a human face,
and this face is the face of my Son.
You, apostles of my love,
you should always carry the face of my Son
in your hearts and your thoughts.
You should always think of His love and His sacrifice.
You should pray to always feel His presence,
because, apostles of my love,
that is the way for you to help all those
who do not know my Son,
who have not come to know His love.
My children,
read the book of the Gospel.
It is always something new,
it is what binds you to my Son
who was born to bring the words of life
to all of my children
and to sacrifice Himself for all.
Apostles of my love,
carried by the love for my Son,
bring love and peace to all of your brothers.
Judge no one.
Love everyone according to the love for my Son.
In this way, you will also be caring for your soul,
and it [your soul] is that which is most precious,
which truly belongs to you.
Thank you.”
We should always carry the face of Jesus in our hearts and our thoughts! We should always think of His love and His sacrifices. We should pray to always feel His presence!! Yes, Mother we want very much to do these things! Help us to always think of Jesus!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
(c) Mary TV 2023
