Get Behind Me Satan!

Peter professes his faith in Jesus as the Christ (Matthew 16).

Jesus begins to make it known that he will soon suffer grievously, be put to death and then rise again.

Peter objects and rightly so:

Illness and suffering can lead to anguish, self-absorption, sometimes even despair and revolt against God.

Jesus intervenes with his, ‘get behind me satan,’ and rightly so:

Suffering can also make a person more mature, helping her to discern in her life what is not essential. Very often illness provokes a search for God and return to him (CCC 1501).

Amen.