Readings: Isaiah 22:19-23; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20
Who Do You Say I Am?
1. I was wrestling with the best way to reflect on the above question when I got a call that my 87-year-old dad has passed on. At that time the question took a different dimension for me. Who do I say Jesus is for me at this trying time? When faced with difficult situations in life, who is Jesus for you? Sometimes it feels like we don’t know who Jesus is. This reminds me of a story told by Mark Link in his Sunday Homilies. A little girl went to CCD class for the first time. After class her mother asked her, “Amy, how did you like CCD today?” The little girl said, “I didn’t like it at all.” Her mother said, “It was your first time. Just wait a few weeks. You’ll come to like it.” Three weeks later the little girl came home from CCD with big tears in her eyes. “What’s the matter?” her mother asked. “It’s CCD,” the little girl said. “Must I keep going?” “Why?” asked her mother. “What’s wrong?” “Well,” said the little girl, “everybody talks about somebody named Jesus. And I don’t know who he is. I’ve never even meet him.”
2. I’m sure Christ will resonate with the feelings of this little girl. Everybody is talking about Christ do they know who Christ is? Was there anyone who understood him? Was there anyone who recognized him for who and what he was? Were there any who, when he was gone from the flesh, would carry on his work, and labor for his kingdom? Do they know what his mission really is? Is Christ only a miracle worker, a healer, a food provider, or the one who raised the dead? This question was crucial to Christ.
3. So, to the question “who do you people say I am?”, a lot of people have opinions about Jesus and who they thought he was. But Christ was not interested in what others said about him, but rather, on an individual experience of him. And so, when Peter made his profession of faith that he knew clearly who Christ was, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”, Christ knew that there was at least someone who knew and understood his mission. He knew that with Peter at the helm, his work was safe, and his mission will go on even without him. Now Peter could be entrusted with a leadership role over others. He was given the keys of the kingdom. But how did Peter come to this sublime knowledge of who Christ was? Because this type of knowledge can only come from God, as St. Paul opines in the second reading: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgements and how unsearchable his ways! For from him and through him and for him are all things.”
4. I want to believe that Peter came to this knowledge through his personal encounter with the person of Jesus. Peter encountered Jesus when he was directed to a catch of a great number of fish to the point that his nets were tearing. He had to signal to his partners in the other boat to come to help him. When Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” (Lk. 5:1-11). How could Peter have forgotten that experience. He saw, firsthand how Jesus healed the sick, beginning with his mother-in-law. (Lk. 4:38-39). He heard many times, the teaching of Jesus. He knew that Jesus taught with authority, unlike the Scribes and Pharisees. (Matt. 7:29). He was rescued from drowning at the sea of Galilee. (Matt. 14:22-33). He saw Jesus doing the kind of work reserved for slaves, like washing of feet. (Jn. 31-17). He saw Jesus feed the multitude with just five loaves and two fish. (Matt. 14:13-21). He, of course, witnessed Jesus spending hours in prayer, sometimes even throughout the night. (Lk 3:21; 11:1-13). Jesus lived with his apostles, and so they saw how simple his life was. No ordinary human being could do all these, except the anointed one of God! Yes, I know who you are, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
5. With Peter’s confession, he was given the keys. Christ trusted him with the responsibility of taking charge of his church; because Peter understood what true power meant. It is service above all; it is suffering and at times, it entails sacrifice. It means being responsible over others in love. Jesus knew that Peter would always fall back on him for support. He knew that he would not arrogate power to himself, like Shebna, in the first reading. Shebna used his power and authority to enrich himself. He forgot the one who put him there and the reason he was placed in that exulted position. Corrupt leaders often feel that they have absolute power and forget that he who gave power can also take it back. And Shebna’s power was transferred to Eliakim.
6. A true leader will always look for the source of his power. And this comes from the knowledge of God. We can know the worth of a person by the power he/she wields. Our knowledge of Christ will assure our humility in the exercise of power. That is why power in the Church is service, and to exercise this power appropriately, one must have a deeper relationship with Christ. So, in your position of authority, who do you say Jesus is? In your family, who do you say he is? When faced with temptation and sickness that defiles all cures, who is Jesus for you? In your free time alone and in your confusion, who is Jesus for you? When entrusted with position of leadership, who do you say Jesus is?
7. So, we pray at this Mass for a true understanding of power and authority. We pray that we may get to know Jesus personally and intimately and that he may use us for his kingdom. Amen.
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
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