MATTHEW
CHAPTER
16
1. The Pharisees and Sadducees came and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 1)
Oh Jesus during my relationship with You I realise how much You hate being tested because this reflects distrust in You oh Jesus. During the time of Your temptation You strictly commanded the Devil not to test You, therefore I am to be sensitive in relation to this issue and even though the clouds of my situation may be thick and black I am to place my trust in You alone and have absolute faith that You are in control of the situation.
2. He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' 3. And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening,' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
(Matthew Chapter 16 verses 2 to 3)
Oh Jesus we appear to be so proud and haughty and full of knowledge. We have built instruments that we think give us accurate results, however You are the Master of all knowledge. Even freak storms and volcanic eruptions that may not be detected by such instruments in time to save lives You are aware of because all is under Your control. I am sorry to say that as humans we may think that we are in control of our lives and destiny but in reality even the smallest raindrop or ray of light is under Your control.
4. An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." Then he left them and went away.
(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 4)
Oh Jesus even today You are giving us the sign of Jonah which was a call for repentance. This is also a time in which we are called to make a radical change in our lives, in both thinking, values and also in our behaviour. May all our actions and judgement be based according to the values found in Your Word oh Jesus instead of on the values and ways of the world.
5. When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread.
(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 5)
Although the apostles had forgotten to bring any bread with them they were not lacking in resources for they had You with them oh Jesus thus they had all the nourishment they needed especially for their souls.
6. "Watch out, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."7. They said to one another, "It is because we have brought no bread."
(Matthew Chapter 16 verses 6 to 7)
Oh heavenly Father at times You speak to me as in the case of the apostles and I do not understand what You mean. When You told me to leave my belongings and follow You, I thought that You wanted me to be a priest, however on the way You showed me that this is not Your will for me. Therefore in order to discern Your will it is wise of us to have a spiritual guide as in spiritual direction in order to help us discern the light from the dark according to Your will in the different situations of our life.
8. And becoming aware of it, Jesus said, "You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? 9. Do you still not perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10. Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11. How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread?
(Matthew Chapter 16 verses 8 to 11)
Oh Jesus at times you try to communicate with us however we happen to be on a different wavelength. Our perception and interpretation of the world is so different that, even when You speak openly to us and try to show us the truth about our self we may not always understand what You mean to tell us. Oh Jesus that You may always give us the ability to always discern what You mean to tell us.
12. Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 12)
On reflecting oh Jesus even during our times the media and many other sources are spreading messages that are contrary to Your teaching and instruction. The forms which these messages are given are very subtle therefore we need to be very careful of what is put on our plate to see by the media in its many forms on line and even offline. I pray for heavenly wisdom so that we be able to sift what is Yours and good from what is not yours and is of a negative nature.
13. Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"14. And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."15. He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
(Matthew Chapter 16 verses 13 to 15)
Today oh Jesus You are asking me to answer a very important question. Who are You in my life. Are You the God of the old Testament who appeared in a cloud or in mighty wonders, are You Jesus the loving and caring Son of God? Indeed You are more than that my Father. Although I am a sinner and not worthy of Your love I still consider You as my loving Father. Even though I do not always I understand You I consider You as being the love of my life and greater than knowledge above all knowledge merciful than all existing mercy Amen.
16. Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 16)
Oh Jesus may we all share Peter's declaration and even more.On praying over this issue of who are You for us, we can all stop and form our own declaration of thanksgiving to You my God friend and father.
17. And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.
(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 17)
At times when our Holy Spirit decides to make use of our senses in order to pass on to ourselves or and to to others we end up as in the case of Peter, making such wonderful declarations and giving such a bold and powerful testimony that is greatly appreciated, by You my God and Father.
18. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever yo loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."20. Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
(Matthew Chapter 16 verses 18 to 20)
Oh Jesus how greatly You reward us for such simple acts, especially when we permit ourselves to be the mouthpieces of Your Holy Spirit. From a simple fisherman, You ordained to be the first Pope who after Your resurrection would lead us, to our eternal home in heaven. I thank You oh Jesus Son of God for giving us all the Popes, throughout the course of time and especially, for Pope Francesco and his down to earth character and simplicity. In more ways, than one I compare him to You oh Jesus. May he and other popes that may precede him, will continue to be filled with Your Spirit values and determination in order, to continue to overcome the forces of evil that will never stop harassing Your Church. I pray for the protection of Your Holy Spirit, and that of Your Angels St. Michael and his legions, for I am also attacked for what I believe do and say. Amen. May I never stop giving testimony of You and Your holy Word amen.
21. From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 21)
Oh Jesus You know us more than we know ourselves, You are aware when we are ready to take on new responsibilities and when we are ready to move on as in the case of the disciples. Now that they had been formed and matured in their faith You started preparing them for the most important part of their earthly life with You. The moment that You had been waiting for. The moment when You would claim a final and total victory over the forces of evil by means of Your death and resurrection. Oh God You also prepare us for peak moments of our lives, however we are not always aware of, the ground work that You are doing behind the scenes.
22. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you."
(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 22)
The devil had long been in waiting for such an opportunity. He chooses people who are close to us in order to test us by means of actions and situations.
23. But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 23)
Oh Jesus this is a great conflict that we face throughout our daily life. I am aware that certain issues that are negative however in order to justify my reasons I focus on worldly reasons instead of placing my focus on the divine. In truth it may be that, when You rebuked Peter You did not rebuke him as human but the negative presence in him that was trying to use Peter in order to misguide You in Your mission for our salvation.
24. Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 24)
To deny the self oh Jesus can be achieved only with Your help oh Jesus, for our nature is egotistic. If given the opportunity we will first cater for our needs over those of others. When I start using the terms 'me' and 'mine' over that of 'theirs' or of 'others' my human self is being given priority over that of others. This does not imply that I am to neglect my personal needs and fall into a stage of degradation, however when I think of others needs before that of my own You always compensate for my needs. Taming the self and its urge to have more, to be sexually fulfilled, to be the best in life even if this means denying others of their rights is to be our main goal in life. It is a spiritual goal that we must aim for if we want to be followers of Jesus. Therefore this means a radical change in my lifestyle oh Jesus. During traffic jams I am always to give others the right of way, in a cue or in a supermarket I am always to give others to shop before me. When You see that humility has become part of my daily life in some way or another on earth, or in heaven I will receive Your reward Amen.
25. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 25)
For those of us who think that they will never die and do their best to live a life of comfort and worldly carnal pleasure they are in for a surprise for all the good things come to an end, and on leaving this world as souls we will take nothing with us but all the good deeds and sins that we have done while still alive on earth. Therefore it can be said that those who love their life will loose it. However those who loose their life in proclaiming Your name or simply beheaded because they are Roman Catholics of Christians will also loose their life but will find a better life in Your holy presence, while those who are worldly will live a never endless life in the fires of hell or in purgatory.
26. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
(Matthew Chapter 16 verse 26)
Many people oh Jesus have reached the peak of their career, of which many are happy, however others even though they have been successful according to the standards set by the world, end up committing suicide or ending their career by some form of abuse that brings their career to a drastic end. However those who invest their life in living according to Your will will never toil in vain for they are aware that our reward is the kingdom of heaven.
27. "For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
(Matthew Chapter 16 verses 27 to 28)
As much as reality is true so is the second coming of Jesus the Son of God. Although some of us seem to deny it by the way they speak, act and promulgate laws that at times clash with the teachings of the Church, the truth is that the second coming is true and will eventually take place. I would like to end this chapter with a prayer to You my Father that we all be found well prepared for Your second coming and that we will all meet again in heaven amen.
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