In today's Gospel there is a differences in the disciples' reaction to Jesus' prediction of his passion. On other occasions when Jesus warned his disciples that he would have to suffer and die as a part of God's plan, the disciples showed disbelief, resistance or fear. Today they show grief. Of course that grief could be partly due to a realisation that their dreams of glory were just that- dreams! Of course there could have been fear mixed up in their grief. But the choice of the word "grief" leaves no doubt that there was an element of genuine sorrow in their grief that the teacher they were beginning to grow to love was going to have to go through some dreadful, unimagineable agony.

Next Matthew shows us that Jesus is worthy, not only of the love due to a self sacrificing friend, he is worthy of worship. He is one with the Lord of the Temple, who is also the transcendant Lord of the vision of Ezechiel.

Finally Matthew shows that Jesus left a way open for Peter and the others to show a continuing respect and gratitude for their Jewish religious tradition. For the time being there was no need to make an issue of their newly emerging belief. The time would come, though, when the issues would be clearer and they would be forced to make a choice. Would they follow their friend and their Lord on the road he chose?