“Who Do You Say That I Am” - A Sunday Reflection

21^st Sunday Ordinary Time, Year A  (IS 22:19-23;  PS 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8; ROM 11:33-36; MT 16:13-20)

 

I became a Deacon two months ago, now people are using the title “Deacon.” It is something that I am trying to feel comfortable with. 

People I have known forever. “How are you doing, Deacon Bill?”

People I just met, “I enjoyed your homily, Deacon Bill.”

People who have ministered to me when I was sick or my fellow Knights of Columbus, “We are so proud of you, Deacon Bill.”

Just two months ago, I was plain Bill. 

It has been a change so dramatic that my daughter came up to me after Mass and said, “Am I supposed to call you Deacon Bill?” 

I said “No, to you I will always be your daddy.  So Deacon Daddy will do!”

----------------

Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 

This is a question that people ask today.

Jesus wanted to know who people thought he was as he was preaching, performing miracles, and disturbing the Jewish Priests and teachers. He was looking for feedback from his disciples who were out and hearing the people talk. Maybe he wanted to see was his gospel heard.

Jesus got answers. People thought he was the return of prophets that had come before him. He was the worker of great miracles.  People were in awe, but nobody could answer the question correctly.

But then he asked those nearest him, “Who do you say that I am?”

Simon answered him.  “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.”  I bet there was dead silence after that answer. 

I don’t think Jesus jumped up immediately.  It was something that Peter realized, but nobody else had seen.  Jesus wanted every body to think about it.

Jesus let it sink in!!

Then Jesus replied.  Blessed are you Simon, son of Jonah, you didn't learn this from a man, but learned this from my heavenly Father. 

If we were to take a secret ballot and asked people to write down, “Who do you say Jesus is?” We would get different answers; especially if we were asking people on the street not just Christians. Kind of like Jesus was asking his disciples. Just like then, today we would get so many different answers, even among Christians. 

If we had that ballot today, what do you think would happen?

·   First, different people would have to stand up and give their opinion. There would be some mud-slinging and people talking bad about Jesus. They would take the good things that he did and turn it around: "Let me tell you some things about Jesus."

·   Second, after everyone had stated their opinion, we would take the ballot. Someone would not like the results. They would challenge the results. It would be fought all the way to the highest court.

·   Third, someone wouldn't like the decision. They would continue to talk ugly about who people thought Jesus was, get on the news all they could; maybe, have a young popular trendsetter say that what you believe is wrong. If that didn't work, they would start their own system of followers who said this is who Jesus is.

So how do we answer the question on who is Jesus Christ? Look at the division in Christ’s Church today; so many Protestants and many types of Catholics, so many divisions and divides. We all know how to say who Jesus is; but, it is how we say it that pulls us apart.

It was to Simon Peter that got the answer right. Jesus gave him the keys to the kingdom. These keys are so important. Isaiah said of the one that God gives the keys to the kingdom - will have authority and shall be the father of the people and the land.  

How do we answer the question? Simon answered in faith and answered it so well that Jesus gave him a new name, Peter, Rock. That’s the way we need to answer the question, with our faith and so well that Jesus Christ will change our name.

Through the Church, we know how to answer the question. Maybe as Catholics, we forget to share our answer. Jesus told the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. Two thousand years later, some of us are still following this request.  

As Paul says, “For from him and through him and for him are all things.” This is how we answer the question, “Who do we say Jesus is?” We answer it so that everything we do is from him and through him and for him.  And the most important thing to remember is that Jesus is love. This is the the song, “They will know we are Christians by our Love.”  

When the question is answered in the right way, then our name will be changed. We will not longer be Bill, or Deacon Bill, or Deacon Daddy.  We will be Christians.

Who do you say that I am?  We can answer that by who we are and how we live and how we love.  Then, they will know we are Christians by our love which is from him and through him and for him. 

Remember, it has been 2000 years. People are still asking the question. We need to share that Jesus is the Christ. The world needs that message. The world needs His love.