Today's Gospel reading announces the passion after Peter's confession of Jesus as the Messiah of God. At this very moment when Jesus' identity as Messiah is recognized, He announced his passion so that his disciples would realize what was to come and eventually for them to follow him. This also set the demands that we, as followers of Christ, would also undergo such in suffering and pain as part and parcel of our discipleship. It is during such times that our discipleship becomes real! So, we ask ourselves, are we ready to embrace it?

When challenged by the world realities, we are tempted to be drawn to the opposite contrary to the call to discipleship. The decision depends on us. As it is reflected in the first reading, when we choose God, we choose Life and this refers to all that makes life rich, full and productive as God created it to be. This presupposes we live according to the commandments of God with trust and hope. Echoing this is the responsorial psalm "happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord."