WHILE the crowd and the disciples were all amazed at His every deed, Jesus said to His disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.
The WORD Today
Prior to the second prediction of the passion, the disciples witness the transfiguration of Jesus and the healing of the boy possessed by a demon. Together with the crowd, they wonder at Jesus’ majestic deeds. Jesus tells them to attend not to what He is doing but to His destiny. Will they still have faith in Him when they see Him powerless in the hands of His enemies? Will they stick with Him through thick and thin? Luke notes that the disciples are afraid to ask Him to explain what He said. Perhaps they are beginning to realize that Jesus’ destiny will affect their own lives. They want to bask in Jesus’ glory, but they are far from being His true disciples. Real discipleship demands that one must deny oneself, take up one’s cross, and follow Jesus (Lk 9:23).
SOURCE:
"366 Days with the Lord," ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
