THE REAL IDENTITY OF JESUS
Introduction: Today's liturgy invites us to have a deeper understanding of Jesus as our Lord and Master. In the first reading, Prophet Isaiah tells us about the decisive intervention of the Lord God to remove the corrupt official who did not take care of His people. In the second reading St. Paul speaks about the inscrutable mystery of God: The creator and the Lord of all that exists. Pope Francis in his Apostolic exhortation entitled 'Joy of the Gospel' tells us that no doctrinal or theological exposition can replace a personal experience of Jesus. Christian discipleship demands a first hand experience of the divine. In the Gospel Jesus put this question: "Who do you say that I am?" It can be answered only by our personal experience of Jesus.
First Reading: Isaiah 22: 19 to 23
Second Reading: Romans 11: 33 to 37
Gospel Reading: Matthew 16: 13 to 20
*First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah assures the people of Israel that the Lord God will remove the corrupt official Shebna who does not take care of the chosen people. In his place, the Lord God will appoint Eliakim who will take care of the people of Jerusalem and of Judah. He will rule the people with fairness and justice. Thus the Lord God brings justice to the people of Israel.
*Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul instructs the Christian community in Rome about the inscrutable mystery of God: He is the creator and the Lord of all that exists. We humans, with our wisdom and human ways of understanding, are very much limited. We are unable to comprehend or understand the infinite wisdom of God.
Who do you say that I am? Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Jesus reveals His true identity to His disciples. Jesus puts two questions to His disciples. The first question is: "Who do men say that I am?" He wants to know what the people of that time think about Him. The answers as expressed by His disciples consist of the following: "Some say, you are John the Baptist (who was murdered by Herod) has come back to life. " Some others say, "You are Prophet Elijah, Prophet Jeremiah or one of the prophets of old, who has come back to life." Hence, the perceptions of the people in general are limited to the understanding of Jesus as a prophet or a man of God. Then Jesus puts a second question, a personal one to His disciples: "Who do you say that I am?" It is a very searching question. Peter immediately confesses: "You are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus praises Peter and tells him, that this confession of faith expressed by him, is something extraordinary. It is a revelation from the heavenly Father. Further, Jesus confirms the role of Peter in the future Church. He is the rock on which Jesus will build His Church. In this context St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta says: "I see Jesus in every human being." On another occasion she says: "There are so many religions and each one has its different ways of following God. I follow Christ. Jesus is my God."
Conclusion: Today Jesus puts the same question to each one of us: "Who do you say that I am?" As He converses with us we could recall some of the faith journeys we had in our lives. Perhaps, the image of Jesus in our early stages in life have undergone tremendous transformation. Perhaps, as the years have gone by, our faith experiences of Jesus have deepened and strengthened. May be we could share some of our faith experiences with others as the Apostles did during their life time. They faithfully transmitted their faith experiences to the future generations. Jesus is inviting us to do the same in the present times.
May the Lord Jesus, who invited Peter and other Apostles to express their faith in the Lord, bless you and grant you the grace and the courage to confess your faith in the Lord in this challenging times. Amen.
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