Matthew 17:22-27

We are oftentimes so overwhelmed by the bad news that we totally miss the good news. This is what happened to the apostles of Jesus. One day, after having been with his apostles practically everyday for the past three years, going with them everywhere he went, teaching them and letting them witness his miracles, Jesus gathered together his apostles and confided to them about his impending suffering and eventual crucifixion and death on the cross. The reaction of his apostles was instantaneously negative. They were utterly shocked and scandalized and they got miserably discouraged. They could not understand why Jesus had to suffer and die an ignominious death on the cross. Was he not supposed to be the Messiah, the Son of God? So why all this talk about passion, suffering and death on the cross? It was Peter, the leader of the apostles who reacted most strongly. “We will not allow this to happen,” he vowed vehemently. “We will fight for you till the end.” And Jesus had to reprimand Peter and told him, “Get behind me Satan.” Had the apostles listened and paid attention to the second part of Jesus’ revelation to them, they would not have acted that way, because what did Jesus say in the second part? “But on the third day I shall rise again” – the good news, the resurrection, the ultimate triumph of Jesus Christ!

In our daily life we also sometimes allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the problems, trials and difficulties that come. We lose sight of the sure fact that every problem has a solution, every trial has a happy ending, every dark cloud has a silver lining; that night is always followed by day and that Good Friday is always followed by Easter Sunday. So let us not just focus on the bad news but also pay attention to the good news.

By Fr. Teng de la Cruz