Readings: Isaiah
22:19-23; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20
Who Do You Say I
Am?
1.
As
I was reflecting on the above question, I got a call that my 91-year-old dad had
passed away. There and then, the question took on a different dimension for me.
Who do I say Jesus is for me at a time like this? 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 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 met him.”
2.
I’m sure Christ will resonate with this
girl’s feelings. Everybody is talking about Christ; do they know who Christ is?
Was he ever understood? Was Christ recognized for who and what he was? After
his ascension, is there anyone who will carry on his work and labor for his
kingdom? Do we know what his mission really is? Is Christ only a miracle
worker, a healer, a 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?”, many people have different opinions about Jesus and who they thought he
was. But Christ was not interested in what others said about him, but rather in
an individual experience of him. And so, when Peter made his profession of
faith: “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 would go
on even without him. And so, Christ appointed Peter to the leadership role and gave
him the keys of the kingdom. But how did Peter come to this sublime
knowledge of Christ? 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.
Peter came to this knowledge through his
personal encounter with the person of Jesus. Peter encountered Jesus when
he was directed to catch 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 Jesus’s teaching many
times. He knew that Jesus taught with authority, unlike the Scribes and
Pharisees. (Matt. 7:29). He was rescued from drowning in the Sea of Galilee.
(Matt. 14:22-33). He saw Jesus doing the kind of work reserved for slaves, like
washing feet. (Jn. 13:1-17). He saw Jesus feed the multitude with just five
loaves and two fish. (Matt. 14:13-21). He, of course, witnessed Jesus as he
spent 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 entrusted him with the
responsibility of leading 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 for 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, as Shebna did 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 exalted 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 know a person’s worth by the power they wield. 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 a position of leadership, who do you say Jesus is?
7.
Let
us pray for a true understanding of power and authority. May we get to know
Jesus personally and intimately so that he may use us for his kingdom. Amen.
Rev. Augustine
Etemma Inwang, MSP
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