Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus frequently refers to himself as the “Son of Man.” In his utter love and humility, God has descended from heaven and become our son to teach us the way to the Father.
Parents know just how much a child can teach them. A child can teach a parent that they as parents are a lot more patient, loving, courageous and resilient than they ever imagined. And nothing hurts a parent more than the thought of their child suffering.
We can understand Peter’s reaction to Jesus as he announces his passion and suffering. But the Lord rebukes him and tells him to see things not as human beings do, but the way that God does. “From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth,” says the psalm today. Thanks to the Son of Man, we can add, “From the earth, the Lord looks up to heaven.” May our gaze join his, trusting that suffering, however momentary or seemingly definite, will not have the final word in our lives.