TRANSFORMED MINDS and COURAGEOUS CHOICES

Reflection for the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time - 30.08.2026 (Year A)

First Reading: Jer 20:7-9

Second Reading: Rom 12:1-2

Gospel: Mt 16:21-27

Dear friends in Jesus Christ we are in the twenty second Sunday of Ordinary Time. Today’s liturgy invites us to have transformation and lead a life that proceeds from that transformation. In the second reading, St. Paul tells the Romans to be guided by their mind which has undergone a transformation upon receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those people had no idea about the purpose of human life, consequences of morality and eternal reward before receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ from Paul. Their lives underwent a transformation when they received baptism and pledged to life the teachings of Jesus. St. Paul does not tell them to obey blindly the teachings of Jesus. He admonishes them to test everything and get to know the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom 12:2). He invites them to undergo a process of discernment in making choices. He reminds them that they have become knowledgeable regarding the world, morality and God. They should use that knowledge to make choices in life.

In the first reading we see Jeremiah declaring his captivity in God. He is being deceived and lured by God. As St. Paul would say, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Gal 2:20), it is no more Jeremiah who lives but God who lives in him. Jeremiah wanted to be away from doing God’s work as it only increases the number of his enemies. However, he could not abandon the work of God since, he is fully captivated by God. Now, he could only wish to be away from doing God’s work but in reality, he would not do so. This is the spirit of people who have been captivated by God. The friends of God face severe alienation, rejection and denouncement in the world for doing God’s work. At times, this heaviness would lead them to despair and bewilderment. They would lament and may even curse God but they would not stop doing God’s work. The truth struggles to stand, but it will not give up. In this context, the gospel of today becomes significant.

In the Gospel, Jesus reveals to His disciple about His upcoming suffering. Peter wants Jesus to abandon this miserable path. He confronts Jesus privately and counsels Him about this. Jesus does not pay heed to the kind advice of Peter. Jesus is fully captivated by the Spirit of God, because He Himself a God. He is not afraid of the path of suffering. Jesus knows fully well that the mission of God always involves rejection, denouncement and condemnation from the world. Here peter exhibits his short-sightedness. His mind thinks narrowly. He has no far-reaching vision. He has not yet been transformed by the teachings of Christ. Jesus sternly rebukes Peter for thinking as worldly person who has no idea about the purpose of life, God, salvation and eternal life.

Across these readings we can picture two kinds of people. One is a prophet who is being captivated by God and resolutely stands for the mission entrusted to her/him by God, despite hostility. Another is an ordinary person who is called to respond to the will of God according to the gift s/he has received. All of us may not become like Jeremiah or Jesus to stand for truth amidst harsh realities. But we can be people who listen to people like Jeremiah and Jesus and make a choice that corresponds to the will of God. Amidst us there are people who stand for truth, justice, mercy and compassion. Can we learn from their teachings and deeds and renew our mind to make right choices? The invitation of Jesus to take up the cross is to renounce always choosing security over discomforts. By saying, what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? (Mt 16:26), Jesus stresses the prominence of soul in human person. By saying, what shall a man give in return for his life? (Mt 16:26), Jesus asserts the priceless and irreplaceable value of the soul. Nothing in the world could match the price of soul. Therefore, we should guard ourselves from making choices that subvert the soul. A transformed person makes choices that profits the soul. Jeremiah did it for the sake of the salvation of the chosen people. Jesus did it for the sake of the lost humanity. St. Paul did it and many saints and people of good will have done so and continue to do in our time as well. May we be captivated by the teachings of Christ. Let us learn to discern rather than go in the flow. Remember, we have already been transformed by Christ through the sacrament of baptism. We only need to use that gift to make renewed choices.