Hearing The Word

A weekly newsletter delivering context and insight into the Sunday Gospels.

August 30, 2026

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 16:21-27

Jesus began to show his disciples

that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly

from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,

and be killed and on the third day be raised. 

Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,

"God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." 

He turned and said to Peter,

"Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. 

You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

Then Jesus said to his disciples,

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,

take up his cross, and follow me. 

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world

and forfeit his life? 

Or what can one give in exchange for his life? 

For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory,

and then he will repay all according to his conduct."

The Cost of Discipleship, The Reward to Glory

Deacon Joseph Boyle

Saint Mary Magdelene Catholic Church+ Media, PA



In this week’s Gospel, Matthew marks a key moment in Jesus’ ministry. After He reveals Himself as the Messiah, Jesus explains what this means: “He must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly… be killed and on the third day be raised.” Peter struggles to accept that suffering is part of Christ’s mission and tries to persuade Jesus to avoid the cross. Jesus responds firmly: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Peter’s mistake was not just wanting to avoid pain, but wanting to avoid the Father’s will. Jesus shows us that salvation comes only through loving obedience to God’s plan.

Jesus calls every disciple to follow the same path: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” Self-denial is not the goal, but a way for our hearts to become more like Christ’s. Holiness grows as we let go of our own desires and choose God’s will instead. We do not look for suffering, but it often comes when we live faithfully in a world that may reject the Gospel. Every sacrifice, hidden act of kindness, and moment of forgiveness, patience, or loyalty is a way we share in Christ’s Cross.



Jesus ends with both a warning and a promise: “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” The Cross always leads to glory. The Son of Man “will come with his angels… and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.” When we keep carrying our cross, God sees our efforts. Staying faithful to Christ now prepares us to share in His resurrection, His victory, and His eternal glory.

Through Who's Eyes Do We See?



~Michael Clymer

Cathedral Basilica Saints Peter and Paul + Philadelphia, PA

Everyone will encounter suffering at some point in their lives, probably many times and to different degrees. The question facing us today is when suffering comes up, how do we approach it? Do we consider the difficult moments we face how God does or how humans do? In the difficult moments, oftentimes questions like “why me” or “how can this happen” or even phrases like “God forbid, Lord” come to mind. What comes with this is the temptation to look for a way out by our own means, relying on whatever seems easiest or most immediate. Jesus is inviting us to consider our suffering in a new way, one that is deeper and more honest. He wants us to know that we can find Him in the midst of our suffering, even when everything feels heavy or confusing.

How many times have we seen someone suffering, and our love for them gives us a desire to be with them through it and help them in any way we can? Well, the same is true for God and His love for us. We naturally seek peace, and when it comes to suffering, we often think that we will find peace by avoiding it or trying to find a way out as quickly as possible. The reality, though, is that bringing Jesus into our suffering and enduring it with Jesus alongside us is how we are going to find the peace we desire. Peace is not the absence of suffering; rather, peace is knowing that even in the most difficult moments of our lives we are in God’s loving presence and held close by His care.

Thinking as God does and not as humans do will give us comfort in the midst of suffering, knowing that the crosses we bear are part of God’s plan, that we are not alone, and that God is leading us through it with patience, strength, and love.