Get Behind Me!

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” Mark 8;26-9:1

A Prayer for Today

Dearest Creator,

draw near to the family and the lonely
we are all in isolation and beseiged
how hard we have tried to be patient
until we cannot stand it any longer.

We have fought and cried out loud
we have blamed others for this misery
we have hurt the people who tarry
the ones who love us just as we are.

Draw near and bring us laughter again
help us remember that we are yours
marked with a permanent love
offspring of hope and great visions.

Help us to walk together this day
and every other one that follows
knowing tears and hurts will come
and in all, you too, will be there. Amen