A New Year Of School

Jesus asked the Apostles, "Who do people say I am?" They said, "John the Baptist, Elijah or a prophet."

The first few weeks of the school are often a blur. You're seeing friends; you're meeting new teachers; you're getting used to a whole new schedule. You might be excited, but you're definitely overwhelmed, too!

The way you feel at the start of the school year probably isn't much different from the way the Apostles felt as they listened to Jesus in this week's Gospel (Mark 8:27-35). They were excited, since He was obviously special and was teaching them things they'd never heard before - but they were also overwhelmed. 

Jesus was talking about how He was going to be hurt for what He was teaching! That was scary. Then Jesus yelled at Peter for worrying about it, which must have been even more confusing. If Jesus was in danger, why shouldn't His friends worry about Him?

One way to get through the beginning of the school year is to just deal with each day instead of thinking about it all at once. You don't have to understand your whole new schedule, just where you have to be right now.

That's basically what Jesus told the Apostles. He wanted them to just listen to what He was teaching, not think too far into the future. There was time enough to learn whatever they would need to be prepared. For the Apostles, it was just the beginning of school!

(09/10/09)