Our readings today offer some difficult challenges not only to the disciples but to us all.  We are asked to offer ourselves as “living sacrifice” and “deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”  Sometimes I think that disciples had such an advantage over us.  They were able to walk and talk with Jesus; they were able to see the miracles firsthand – the sea stilled, the scraps feeding the mobs with leftovers, the blind being able to see and the cripple walking.  Yet so many times, they don’t see to “get it.” However, as I reviewed today’s readings especially the gospel, I started to think that some of what they were hearing may have been well beyond their comprehension. Perhaps even more difficult for them than us, who see a more complete picture (yet so many times we [me!!] still don’t get it!).   So, I tried to imagine what it would be like walking beside Jesus and hearing these predictions of the future without the framework that we now have.

Imagine being the disciples on this walk, perhaps the dialogue with each other (with some of our expressions):
That was amazing, wasn’t it?  How did He manage to feed all those people? Yeah, and that guy now walking!  He’s the real deal for sure.  I agree, we are really going to be free this time.  He surely will lead us to freedom! 

Hey, did you just hear what He said – He said that we are going back to Jerusalem and He will suffer and die!  No, that can’t be – how is that going to help us?  What does He mean He will be raised?  Don’t worry, I noticed that Peter is taking Him aside and will get this straightened out.  Peter is His favorite so He will certainly listen to him.  This just doesn’t make sense. 

Uh oh, did you hear what He said to Peter?  He called him an obstacle!  This is not good.  He said he was thinking as a human being.  How else can he think of us?  I’m confused, of course, we think as human beings. 

I guess I need to understand that it wasn’t any easier being a disciple and understanding all of this (until the Resurrection and the descending of the Holy Spirit) than it is for us at times.  While our lives are, indeed, very different from the disciples and the world around us offers different challenges, the bottom line remains the same.  We still need to resist conforming to what is around us, what the secular world calls success and rather, seek the will of God. We often debate what are the great questions in life, perhaps this gospel offers the definitive question: What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?