Mark 8:33
"You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."
Jesus says these words to St. Peter just after their conversation about who Jesus is. Peter confesses rightly that Jesus is the Son of God, but he misses the point of what that means. Usually when we think of special titles and recognition, we associate them with fame and acknowledgements and hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. Most of us probably don't want that kind of fame, but we would gladly take the corner office with a view, and reserved parking spot. When we think of honors and titles, we don't typically think of being humiliated, slandered, and beaten up.
But this is exactly why Jesus became one of us. This is the mission of the Son eternally begotten of the Father, to be sent for others. Everything Jesus did was for us and for our salvation. How different is this from what the world tells us? The world tells us to grab more and more for ourselves, and even when we do good deeds, they end up serving just to make us feel good about ourselves. This is the radicalness of Christianity, complete selflessness. Is this possible for us? Not by ourselves, but with God's grace.
Get to know our seminarians! Today's reflection was written by:
Zach Brasseur, Pastoral Year
Home parish: St. Paul, St. Petersburg
Did you know...
Zach is a native of St. Petersburg, but feels at home anywhere in the diocese. He believes that the world would be a better place if everyone listened to the Avett Brothers.
Pray with us for the men and women discerning the priesthood and religious life. To pray for our seminarians by name or to find out more about the Diocese of St. Petersburg vocations office, click here.
