God, I have a review today that worries me. I don’t like to unnecessarily make people feel uncomfortable but sometimes it is my job. I enjoy coaching and it is easier when affirming excellent performance, yet, I need help in being resolute with someone who does not wish to face their own shortcomings. I do want to make it safe for them to be honest. If I do not address their behavior, I will fail them. So, I ask for help to be analytical in connecting their behavior to their results. But, also give me empathy. Let me accurately understand their feelings and emotions but not soften the message in a way that will be unhelpful to them.
You showed me in the Gospel how you can be both direct and caring. You said to Peter, “Get behind me Satan, you are a hindrance…” MT 16:22. I am sure that he felt embarrassed, but you had great things in store for him. “You are Peter and on this rock, I will build my Church.” It would not be the last time that Peter erred, but you stayed with him. Help people I need to correct feel that I will stay with them but won’t overlook their need for improvement.
Section 2, Scripture : 2 Sam 12:1-7; MT 16:21-27
| Hebrew Scripture | New Testament |
| Nathan’s Parable when David did away with Uriah and took his wife Bathsheba
1 The LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him, he said: “Tell me how you judge this case: In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor. 2 The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers.3 But the poor man had nothing at all except one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children. Of what little he had she ate; from his own cup she drank; in his bosom she slept; she was like a daughter to him.4 Now, a visitor came to the rich man, but he spared his own flocks and herds to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him: he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”5 David grew very angry with that man and said to Nathan: “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves death!6He shall make fourfold restitution* for the lamb because he has done this and was unsparing.” 7 Then Nathan said to David: “You are the man! 2 Samuel 12:1-7 |
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he 17 must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.
22 Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” 23 He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.
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Section 3
You may wish to be silent for a few minutes.
Section 4
Offer prayer in your own words speaking to God who is for us, with us and in us.