THINK LIKE GOD (08-05-10)

John 20:7-8
“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
-------------------------------------------------------------

We tend to call a person by animate names whenever they act differently or not according to how we know him. And so, we would remark, “You animal”, or “You pig!”, or “What a snake!”, to tell that person that you do not approve of his wrongdoing and you like him to a pig or a snake. But of course, that doesn’t mean he is a pig or a snake, it is just that his attitude at that time is like those.

And similarly, you would call another person “an angel”, or “an apple of my eye”, or “a beautiful songbird”, to express how we like that person.

So when Jesus said to Peter, “get behind me, Satan”, is He saying that Peter is “the” Satan, or just trying to liken him to Satan? Satan doesn’t want Jesus to die, because that would mean salvation for all mankind. Satan wants Jesus to live, because that would mean death for all, so he may own each and every one of us. And at that time, this is how he and the other disciples think – “No, Lord, no such thing shall ever happen to you”.

And so that remarks to Peter would also apply to each of us, if we do not believe that Jesus suffered and died for our sins. We are like Satan if we ignored the fact that Jesus has, on the third day, rose again in order to be with the Father.

And, like Peter, the Lord is giving us another chance to think differently and think like God. In fact, He would give us another and another and another chance, just to make sure that we will all be with Him in heaven. Believe in Him, trust in Him, love Him. He is the Christ, the son of the living God.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, thank You for Your promises which clearly tell those who are faithful to Your call will be given all the wisdom, knowledge and strength we need to accomplish what we are called to do. Turn our hearts away from our own selfishness and teach us to love You only. Amen +

My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit…