THURSDAY 6th Week B (Mk 8:27-33)
Who do you say Jesus is? With that brief question Jesus Christ confronted His followers with the most important issue they would ever face. He had spent much time with them and made some bold claims about His identity and authority. Now the time had come for them to confess their faith. After the lecture it was time for the quiz.
In today's reading, we get a surprising glimpse into the insights of faith. Who do you say that I am? A greatest question we can ever face. You are the Christ, the Son of the living God; is Peter's ringing confession.
Jesus started giving an easy question: "Who do people say I am?" The disciples answered: "Well, some say you're John the Baptist ... some say Elijah ... others say a prophet come back from the dead." They were happy to be in the safety of collective speculation. But Jesus wouldn't let them stay there for long. The Christ whom we follow is personal. Christ loves all of us and died for the whole world, but he always comes inquiring about my heart, your heart. "Who do you say I am?"
___ Peter hit a home run: "You are the Messiah of God." This was a very good answer. Of course there are two ways to give answer to that question: (a) we may answer with our lips, and (b) we may answer with our living. Peter gave a remarkably good answer with his lips on this particular day. But he demonstrated an entirely different kind of answer all over a sudden. He failed to understand that Jesus was also a “Suffering Messiah” and who will accomplish this by His passion and death on the Cross.
___ Who do you say Jesus is? Your response to Him will determine not only your values and lifestyle, but also your eternal destiny as well. Our answers leak out of us, whether we mean for them or not. “Who do you say that I am?” it is a personal question that demands a personal response from us. It is true that we have read and heard many things about Jesus as a teacher, a healer, a preacher and a prophet. But do these images move and inspire us to love Him more? Knowing Jesus is not just a matter of the mind and of knowledge, we should imitate Him the way He lives, the way he loves and forgives people.
___ Peter hit a home run: "You are the Messiah of God." This was a very good answer. Of course there are two ways to give answer to that question: (a) we may answer with our lips, and (b) we may answer with our living. Peter gave a remarkably good answer with his lips on this particular day. But he demonstrated an entirely different kind of answer all over a sudden. He failed to understand that Jesus was also a “Suffering Messiah” and who will accomplish this by His passion and death on the Cross.
___ Who do you say Jesus is? Your response to Him will determine not only your values and lifestyle, but also your eternal destiny as well. Our answers leak out of us, whether we mean for them or not. “Who do you say that I am?” it is a personal question that demands a personal response from us. It is true that we have read and heard many things about Jesus as a teacher, a healer, a preacher and a prophet. But do these images move and inspire us to love Him more? Knowing Jesus is not just a matter of the mind and of knowledge, we should imitate Him the way He lives, the way he loves and forgives people.
This is what St James tells today, calling our attention to what we do many times, that is, favoring richly dressed people over those who look ordinary. Appearance makes us discriminate. Aware of this tendency, may we not succumb to the temptation that our value as persons lies on our appearance. This does not mean, of courses, that we do not dress up cleanly and decently according to occasions. Our bodily appearance should reflect the real value that we feel as God’s beloved.
In dealing with others let us see deeper than the externals. Let us learn from these words of the pencil maker telling his pencils before leaving the factory: “Pencils, remember the following: first, your value is found within you; second, always allow yourselves to be led and guided by another hand when you write; and third, bear the pain of being sharpened regularly.
"Who do you say I am?" May each of us be finding good and healthy ways of answering with his life, "You are the Christ, the Messiah sent from God."
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