Homily for Thursday 21st February 2019
_“But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men.” *(Mark 8:33)*_
If you have ever been duped before by a trickster, then you have just experienced a tiny percentage of satan’s deceptive abilities. Satan is a master of disguise; he never shows his true colours, he comes either as a close friend or as a good adviser and sometimes, he even tempts us through those we hold in high esteem. This is exactly what plays out in today’s Gospel passage.
In a town called Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples what people were saying about him. Only Peter gave the correct answer: “You are the Christ.” In Matthew’s accounts, we are told that Jesus was so excited with Peter’s response that He immediately pronounced Peter, the first Pope. “You are Peter and on this rock I build my church.” (Matthew 16:18). Shockingly, a few moments afterwards, we hear Jesus refer to that same Peter as satan.
Note that when Jesus said “Get behind me satan!” Jesus did not mean as an insult on Peter, rather Jesus was speaking directly to the voice that had just spoken through Peter.
Having been given the keys to the kingdom of heaven, (Matthew 16:19), Peter’s opinions were no longer to be taken lightly by Jesus. Satan in his craftiness quickly ceased this opportunity to disguise in other to discourage Jesus from the Cross. It took the strong will of Jesus to notice that this was not the Pope speaking but satan.
Are you able to recognize the voice of satan in that close friend of yours who is always making jokes of immoral things while at the same time doing everything to lure you into fornication or adultery? Do you recognize satan’s voice in that business colleague of yours who has just hatched out a plan to milk the company dry?
Do you recognize satan’s voice in that big man or woman whom you respect so much, yet, wants you to do something evil for money? Do you recognize satan’s voice in that man or woman of God that is trying to discourage you from following the narrow path of salvation? Or that man/woman of God who solicits and drags a penitent to sin?
The fight against sin and evil is not one to be fought with kid gloves. Jesus did not give a second thought to what he heard Peter say. Jesus did not even try to avoid hurting Peter’s feelings with his response. Jesus gave it very hard to him. This is the kind of approach satan deserves. If you are too scared of hurting other people’s feelings when it comes to sin, you end up hurting yourself in the long run. Be bold to call satan by his very name whenever you recognize him because he is a master deceiver and professional liar.
In today’s first reading, we come to the end of Noah’s story. We see how God made a covenant with him and blessed him with the same blessing that Adam and Eve received. A new humanity was about to begin. A covenant is an agreement between two parties. The question is: “will this new humanity under Noah remain faithful to the terms and conditions of this covenant?”
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, open all my spiritual senses to recognize satan the tempter so that I may never get to fall for his tricks. Amen.
*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Sixth Thursday in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Genesis 9:1-13, Psalm 102 and Mark 8:27-33).
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