From Rock to Stumbling Block: A Call to Faith

Summary

### Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound themes presented in the scriptures, particularly focusing on the passage from Isaiah and the Gospel. Isaiah, who lived 500 years before Jesus, prophesied about the coming Messiah, often referred to as the suffering servant. This passage vividly describes the trials and tribulations that Jesus would endure, affirming our faith in God's intentional revelation over millennia. This revelation invites us to respond freely and follow Jesus in discipleship.

The Gospel passage highlights the dynamic and often tumultuous relationship between Jesus and Peter. Peter's journey is a mirror of our own struggles with faith and understanding God's will. One moment, Peter is the rock upon which Jesus will build His church, and the next, he becomes a stumbling block, revealing the human tendency to think and act contrary to God's ways. Jesus' rebuke of Peter, "Get behind me, Satan," underscores the importance of aligning our thoughts and actions with God's will rather than our own.

This dichotomy between being a rock and a stumbling block is a central theme. We are called to be steadfast in our faith, like Peter at his best, and to avoid becoming obstacles to others' faith journeys. This requires a deep commitment to living out our faith through both belief and action, as emphasized in the reading from James. Faith without works is dead; our actions must reflect our belief in Christ and our commitment to His teachings.

As we reflect on these scriptures, we are reminded of the suffering servant who remained faithful to God's will despite immense challenges. This calls us to examine our own lives: Are we rocks that others can build upon, or are we stumbling blocks that cause division and separation? By identifying and addressing the areas where we fall short, we can strive to live in communion with God, embodying His love and charity in all we do.

### Key Takeaways

1. The Prophecies of Isaiah: Isaiah's prophecies about the suffering servant provide a powerful affirmation of our faith. They remind us that God's revelation is intentional and spans millennia, inviting us to respond freely and follow Jesus in discipleship. This historical context enriches our understanding of Jesus' mission and the fulfillment of God's promises. [01:06]

2. Peter's Dual Role: Peter's journey from being the rock to a stumbling block illustrates the human struggle with faith and understanding God's will. His story encourages us to reflect on our own lives and strive to align our thoughts and actions with God's will, avoiding the pitfalls of pride and self-reliance. [03:43]

3. Faith and Works: The reading from James emphasizes that faith without works is dead. Our belief in Christ must be reflected in our actions, demonstrating our commitment to His teachings and our willingness to live out our faith in tangible ways. This balance of faith and works is essential for a vibrant Christian life. [06:08]

4. The Suffering Servant: Jesus' unwavering commitment to God's will, despite immense suffering, serves as a model for us. We are called to remain faithful and committed to doing good, even in the face of challenges, embodying the love and charity of Christ in our daily lives. [07:02]

5. Self-Examination: We are invited to examine our own lives and identify areas where we may be stumbling blocks to others. By addressing these areas and striving to be rocks that others can build upon, we can live in greater communion with God and support the faith journeys of those around us. [07:59]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[0:30] - Introduction to the Scriptures
[01:06] - Prophecies of Isaiah
[02:06] - Peter's Struggles and Faith
[02:51] - Jesus' Question to His Disciples
[03:43] - Peter as Rock and Stumbling Block
[04:32] - The Choice Before Us
[05:26] - Jesus' Rebuke and Its Implications
[06:08] - Faith and Works in James
[07:02] - The Suffering Servant's Example
[07:59] - Self-Examination and Reflection
[08:53] - Conclusion and Call to Communion

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Isaiah 50:6-7
2. Matthew 16:13-23
3. James 2:14-17

#### Observation Questions
1. What specific trials and tribulations does Isaiah describe that the suffering servant would endure? ([01:06])
2. How does Peter's role shift from being a "rock" to a "stumbling block" in the Gospel passage? ([03:43])
3. According to the reading from James, what is the relationship between faith and works? ([06:08])
4. What does Jesus' rebuke of Peter, "Get behind me, Satan," signify in the context of their conversation? ([03:43])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How do Isaiah's prophecies about the suffering servant enhance our understanding of Jesus' mission and the fulfillment of God's promises? ([01:06])
2. In what ways does Peter's journey reflect the common struggles believers face in aligning their will with God's will? ([02:06])
3. How does the balance of faith and works, as discussed in James, apply to the modern Christian life? ([06:08])
4. What does it mean to be a "rock" that others can build upon versus a "stumbling block" that causes division? ([04:32])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like a "rock" in your faith. What actions or attitudes helped you support others in their faith journey? ([04:32])
2. Identify an area in your life where you might be acting as a "stumbling block" to others. What steps can you take to change this? ([07:59])
3. How can you better align your thoughts and actions with God's will, avoiding the pitfalls of pride and self-reliance? ([03:43])
4. In what ways can you demonstrate your faith through works in your daily life? Think of specific actions you can take this week. ([06:08])
5. Consider the example of the suffering servant. How can you remain committed to doing good, even in the face of challenges? ([07:02])
6. How can you support others in their faith journeys, ensuring you are a "rock" they can build upon? ([04:32])
7. What practical steps can you take to examine and address areas in your life where you may be causing division or separation? ([07:59])

Devotional

Day 1: God's Revelation Through Prophecy
Isaiah's prophecies about the suffering servant provide a powerful affirmation of our faith. They remind us that God's revelation is intentional and spans millennia, inviting us to respond freely and follow Jesus in discipleship. This historical context enriches our understanding of Jesus' mission and the fulfillment of God's promises. [01:06]

Isaiah 53:3-5 (ESV): "He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."

Reflection: How does understanding the long history of God's revelation through prophecy deepen your faith in Jesus as the Messiah? Can you identify a specific prophecy that strengthens your belief in God's plan?

Day 2: The Dual Nature of Peter's Faith
Peter's journey from being the rock to a stumbling block illustrates the human struggle with faith and understanding God's will. His story encourages us to reflect on our own lives and strive to align our thoughts and actions with God's will, avoiding the pitfalls of pride and self-reliance. [03:43]

Matthew 16:22-23 (ESV): "And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, 'Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.' But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself acting as a stumbling block rather than a rock? How can you realign your thoughts and actions to better reflect God's will?

Day 3: The Balance of Faith and Works
The reading from James emphasizes that faith without works is dead. Our belief in Christ must be reflected in our actions, demonstrating our commitment to His teachings and our willingness to live out our faith in tangible ways. This balance of faith and works is essential for a vibrant Christian life. [06:08]

James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Reflection: Think of a specific way you can demonstrate your faith through action today. How can you serve others in a manner that reflects your commitment to Christ's teachings?

Day 4: The Example of the Suffering Servant
Jesus' unwavering commitment to God's will, despite immense suffering, serves as a model for us. We are called to remain faithful and committed to doing good, even in the face of challenges, embodying the love and charity of Christ in our daily lives. [07:02]

1 Peter 2:21-23 (ESV): "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent challenge or suffering you have faced. How can you follow Jesus' example in responding to this situation with faith and commitment to God's will?

Day 5: Self-Examination and Growth
We are invited to examine our own lives and identify areas where we may be stumbling blocks to others. By addressing these areas and striving to be rocks that others can build upon, we can live in greater communion with God and support the faith journeys of those around us. [07:59]

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV): "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you might be a stumbling block to others. What steps can you take to transform this area into a foundation that supports and encourages the faith of those around you?

Quotes

1. "And so part of the scriptural revelation, part of the Old Testament of the Bible, and when we read it in light of Christ, it's supposed to give us an affirmation of our faith, that God has intentionally revealed himself, really over millennia, to prove himself. Without just overtly shoving, throwing himself at all of us, through revelation, through truth, through our own freedom of choice, to respond, I hear you, and I see what you've done, and I'm following." [01:06] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "And even in the midst of a day, you know, the last supper, he's at the supper, I'll go and die with you. And hours later, I don't know him, I don't know him, I swear I don't know him. You know, he's kind of going in and out. And like all of us, struggling with making sense of what Jesus was asking of him, and making sense of what Jesus was inviting him to do and be in reference to his own will, and what he wanted, and what he thought should take place, and how he thought it should be." [02:06] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "And Peter, of course, is the one, again, that stands up to say, you're the Christ, you're the Son of God. You're the one that we hold, that's come into the world. You're the one that we're able to reveal truth because of what we've seen and heard. And Christ's response to it is the crucifixion. He says, well, this is what it means. The Son of Man is going to suffer greatly. He's going to be rejected by this world, by the religious leaders. He's going to be condemned, and he's going to rise. Gives them Good Friday and Easter Sunday, right, to them." [02:51] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "And in a real sense, what Peter invites us and what Jesus invites through Peter's own thinking and his yes and his no is, you know, are we a rock that people are going to build themselves up on, that the church can be built on, that our families can be built on, that our schools can be built on, and, you know, our relationships can be built on our yes to Jesus and following him? Or are we a stumbling block that people are going to trip over? And creating division and creating separation and creating falsehood." [04:32] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "And I think as we get these words from James and the faith and the works and how everything we do matters, in light of Peter and what Peter represents to us, this week we're really asked, you know, the suffering servant who comes in God's name, who fulfills all God's will, and despite, as it says, despite the challenges and the difficulties and the things that happen to him in the world, he remained faithful. He remained committed. He chose to do the good no matter what. And it resulted, of course, in his crucifixion." [07:02] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "With all that being said, when Jesus says discipleship means to follow me, and am I going to do that? Am I willing to be following him by being a rock that people can build themselves on? Or am I allowing my own pride, greed, envy, all the things that can separate us, be a stumbling block for the world around us? And so I think as we pray the Mass this day, it's a good invitation for all of us to, first of all, recognize like Peter, we've all been rocks people can build them on, and we've all been stumbling blocks." [07:59] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "But as Jesus says here, and it's really a line for the refrigerator to keep in front of us, you're not thinking as God does, but as human beings do. And it's going to take you away from me, and it's going to be a stumbling block out in the world. Think as God does. And so as we turn to the Eucharist, as we say amen to the Eucharist this day, we ask the grace and the courage to see, you know, how God sees, how God thinks, to respond in a way that's in communion with him, that responds in such a way that names him as Messiah and follows him in all we say and do, and gives our amen to him this particular day." [08:53] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

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