In order to gain heaven, we must die to this world.
Sunday, Aug. 30, is the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Mass readings: Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27.
In the Gospel, the Lord illustrates the cross as a ladder to heaven.
The text says, “Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
The Lord announces the cross as well as the Resurrection — and announces the pattern of the Christian life, which we have come to call the Paschal mystery: the suffering, death, resurrection and glorification of Jesus as a whole.
This is the pattern of our life: We are dying to our old self, to this world, to our sins — but rising to new life, rising to the kingdom of God and becoming victorious over sin.
Indeed, the cross brings life.
“Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, ‘God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.’ He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind
