May 15, Thursday Weekday

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.-- Psalm 34:7

Mass readings: James 2:1-9 / Mark 8:27-33

Getting It Right

The first reading and the Gospel show us our great need to ''be transformed by the renewal of your mind'' (Rom 12:2). Without that radical transformation in the Holy Spirit, we tend to get things wrong, important things such as our attitude toward the poor and our understanding of who Jesus is.

Peter, for example, held the wrong idea of the Messiah as a mighty political leader. His Messiah could never suffer, be rejected, or killed, so Peter hastily set Jesus straight, saying in essence, ''You are the Messiah, but you're wrong!'' We need to do what Jesus then told Peter: ''Get behind Me.'' When we stay behind Jesus, instead of getting out in front of Him with our own limited ideas, it's possible for us to think as God does, not as human beings do.

Prayer: Jesus, our Messiah, renew our minds this day that we may know You more.