In today's Gospel reading, Jesus teaches his disciples that He would undergo great suffering, be rejected, and killed, and then in 3 days would rise again. In Peter's mind, messiahs conquer and win and rule, they surely don't suffer and die. Yet, Jesus' way of love is so strong, even death cannot stop it.

Lent is traditionally viewed as a time of sacrifice, for us to connect with Jesus 40 days in the desert. Yet, we have Jesus' word's in today's reading, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news.”