Sunday March 12, 2006

Text for the Day -- Mark 8:31-34
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Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great
suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the
scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all
this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said,
'Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine
things but on human things.'

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, 'If any
want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up
their cross and follow me.'

Devotional
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When Jesus predicts his suffering, death and resurrection, Peter, not
understanding, objects strenuously to Jesus. Jesus rebukes Peter for
not being able to accept God's redemptive plan. Then Jesus goes on to
say that anyone who follows him must come to this path of redemptive
suffering for the sake of the Gospel. This is tough love! Can you
accept it?

Prayer
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Give me courage to deepen in my love, O God. Amen