22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Peter's Choice

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Gospel reflection for 6-9 year olds for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, year A.

"Peter hears Jesus say he will be killed, but perhaps he does not hear Jesus say that he will be raised from the dead. Does Peter understand what will happen on the third day? How can he? It has never happened before. Peter cannot see into the future. So Peter takes Jesus aside, plants himself firmly in front of him, and blocks the path.

Jesus says,

'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.'

Whoa.

Jesus calls Peter, 'Satan.' We know Satan is a name used for the devil. Does Jesus think that Peter is evil now? That Peter is the devil??

The word 'satan' means 'adversary.' An adversary works against us, tries to stop us. Peter stands in Jesus' way. Blocking the way, Peter is an adversary to Jesus. The Rock becomes a stumbling block, something that causes a person to trip and fall."