A QUESTION OF FAITH: Who do you say I am?

Mt 16:13-20

Who do you say that I am? With this brief question Jesus Christ confronted His followers about the most important issue they would ever face. He had spent much time with them and had made some bold claims about His identity and his authority. Now the time had come for them to confess their faith. After the lecture it was time for the quiz.

In his method, Jesus started giving an easy question: "Who do people say I am?" It is very easy to talk about other people. The disciples answered: "Well, some say you're John the Baptist ... some say Elijah ... others say a prophet." They were happy giving collective speculations. But that was not Jesus’ point. Jesus was not satisfied or interested in what other people said about Him. He was interested in a more profound answer from his disciples about His essential identity. He wanted personal answers. And that is why he asked: Who do you say that I am? This requires a personal answer because the Christ whom we follow is personal. It is true that Christ loves all of us and died for the whole world, but he always comes inquiring about my heart, about your heart. "Who do you say I am?"

Peter spoke up: “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” This is a very good answer that reflects faith. It means that the answer to this question is a profession of faith. It is a personal question that demands a personal response from each us; a personal confession of faith. We all know many things about Jesus, we have read and heard many things about him as a teacher, a healer, a preacher, a prophet, and as Son of God. But do these images move and inspire us to love Him more, to trust him and confess him as Lord?

This Gospel speaks of the confession of Peter: “You are Christ, the Son of the living God.” And because of this confession, Jesus replies: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.” It means that the role of Peter, is founded upon his confession of faith in Jesus. It is because he confessed his faith that he obtained favor from the Lord. Faith opens us to God’s will, and to God’s blessings. The question Jesus asked His disciples is put to us today. We are also asked the same question: “Who is Jesus for you; who is Jesus for me? It is a personal question that demands from us a personal response. It is a critical question that calls us to faith, commitment and willingness to cooperate with God.

We are reminded that our talents and our weaknesses too can become God’s means of helping others. Simon Peter was not an extraordinary man. Remember, in character, he was an impulsive and enthusiastic man, wanting to make three tents at the transfiguration on the mountain, attempting to walk on the waters and then has to be rescued by Jesus when he began to sink. And he denied Jesus three times. But in all this, Jesus takes special care to establish him as the leader of the Church. The message is that we don’t have to be perfect for God to work through us, God can work through us, as he did with Peter despite our weaknesses. All we need is a confession of faith as Peter did. "Who do you say that I am?" May each of us be able to find good and healthy ways of answering this question.