"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness"

by Fr. Jerome Cayetano  |  08/30/2026  |  The WORD in other words

The Gospel reading today is the continuation of last Sunday’s Gospel. After Peter’s profession that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. Immediately, he predicts his own passion, death and resurrection. Meaning to say, he is willing and determined to take upon himself the role of the “Suffering Servant” which Isaiah has prophesied many years back.

To Jesus, having a political or militaristic role as a Messiah is not his cup of tea, but the fulfillment of God’s will through his “paschal mystery”, that is, his passion, death, resurrection and glorification. Matthew specifically mentions this: “From then on, Jesus (the Messiah) started to indicate to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly there at the hands of the scribes, and to be put to death, raise up on the third day.” (Mt 16:21-22) Indeed, Jesus knows his destiny, that is, the will and plan of God for him. And he is unafraid to accomplish it. He is a very determined and focused person.

When Peter heard about it, he vehemently objects about it by saying: “May you be spared, Master! God forbid that such thing to happen to you. (Mt. 16:23) In other words, Peter, the rest of the disciples and the people are expecting a Messiah (Savior) to be a political or militaristic because they live under the Roman rule. They expect a political Savior. The role of a suffering servant” which Jesus accepts is off tangent to them. In reaction to Peter’s objection of Jesus determination to fulfill God’s will on him, he turns to Peter and emphatically says: “Get out of my sight Satan! You are trying to make me trip and fall.” You are not judging by God’s standards, but by man’s.” (Mt 16: 23) Would you be happy to be called by Jesus Satan? Of course not!

But we have the tendency to follow the path of the devil when we follow our human standard as opposed to God’s. Or when we dichotomize ourselves between God’s teaching and our human principles and ideals. Or when we compromise our Christian faith, beliefs and principles just to accommodate the human and materialistic world. What Jesus is teaching us today is to seek and prioritize God’s Kingdom over and above human considerations, ideals, aspirations and desires. “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” (Mt 6:33) To make Jesus who is the Kingdom of God in person the absolute value. Everything in this world is relegated to Him.

Our readings today inspire, challenge, and convict us to follow what Jeremiah did, that is, to be focused and determined in proclaiming God’s message to people despite the insults and persecutions that we might face. To remain silent means to abet or agree with the status quo or to allow evil to prevail. In line with this idea, St. Paul urges us not to follow and live like the people around us. We must be different. We must be Christ-like. The Gospel specifically suggests that the path towards the Kingdom of God is through suffering and death based on Jesus’ example. And as Christians, we must prepare to suffer. Every pain or suffering that we have or undertake ought to be united with Christ’s suffering to be meaningful and redemptive. And our intention must be genuine like for the conversion of sinners, for the intention of the Pope, or for peace. Finally, we must allow Jesus to scold us if we are going to the path of destruction or endangering our soul.

Let the word of God be our inspiration, correction, teaching, and guide. For God’s truth will set us free.