Friday
of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Nahum 2:1.3,3:1-3.6-7; Matthew
16:24-28)
Today’s
first reading from the Book of the prophet Nahum predicts the fall of Nineveh,
the capital of the Assyrian empire. The
Book of the prophet Jonah paints a very positive picture of Nineveh. According to it, every man, woman, child, and
even animal did penance for the sins of the nation. Jonah’s description
portrait is a startling contrast from how Nahum sees the city.
More
realistically, Nahum calls Nineveh a city of blood, lies and plunder. He sees it falling under the weight of its
own evil. Its destruction is “good news”
for Israel who suffered terribly from its invasion. According to the prophet, Israel can now live
in peace. However, the Medes and
Babylonians, who conquered Assyria, will inflict a similar oppression on
Israel. God’s people will have to wait
for the more fair-minded minded Persians to know a peace worth having.
In today’s
gospel Jesus speaks of the cost of a true and lasting peace. It is not won by military expedition but by
following Jesus himself. One must take
up one’s cross with patience as well as courage as Jesus bore his. We must exhibit a love like Jesus’ if we are
to experience the peace of his kingdom.
