Over the last several days during daily mass we have been reading from the
Gospel of St. Luke. In these readings from Luke we see that Jesus has been
building up a reputation as one who heals the sick and expels demons. We also
heard of Jesus giving his disciples power to heal and to expel demons. Further,
King Herod was greatly perplexed when he started hearing of the reputation of
Jesus, and people saying, “John has been raised from the dead.” Herod was
concerned since he was the one that put John the Baptist to death.
As a result
of all that Jesus was doing, he was developing a following and a reputation as
someone sent from God. People were drawn to Jesus because of all they saw him
do. They assumed he was one of the great prophets from the past, or, more
recently, John the Baptist raised from the dead.. When Jesus first asks his
disciples, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” they respond “John the Baptist;
but others, Elijah; and still others, one of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”
Jesus persists in his questioning, and asked, “But who do YOU say that I am?”
Peter responds, “The Christ of God!” Peter recognized Jesus as Messiah, the Son
of God. Because of Peter’s relationship with Jesus, Peter was able to see Jesus
for who he really was: the Messiah, the Son of God!
In our own day and time, we
have people who feel that Jesus was just a holy and devout man. They feel he was
a great teacher and one who taught about peace and love, but nothing more than
that. They fail to see beyond his teachings and fail to see who he really is:
The Son of God.
Our life of faith is based on the fact that we ourselves join
with Peter and have made this confession of faith in Jesus. The Lord appreciates
our act of faith in him, especially when we thank him for the depth of the love
he has shown through his Passion, Death and Resurrection. This is the space out
of which we make our prayer to God – from a place of thanksgiving in our hearts.
As we approach the Lord in Holy Communion today, let us pray to Him, “You are
the Christ of God” and thank him for His presence in our lives and for being our
Savior. Amen.
There is an important component added in St. Matthew's version of this account that is missing in the Gospel account of St. Luke & I think it is missing in St. Mark's Gospel as well. In St. Matthew's Gospel, in addition to St. Peter's declaration & the promise of JESUS to give St. Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven & change his name from Simon to Peter, meaning "rock", Our LORD JESUS exclaims that St. Peter's declaration comes not merely from "flesh and blood" but from Divine revelation, "My Father in heaven". Years later, St. Paul, in chapter 12 of his first letter to the Corinthian Christian converts would write "No one can say JESUS IS LORD except in the Holy Spirit."
ReplyDeleteIf people look at JESUS with only our limited human capacity they will remain confused about His true identity. Unfortunately many voices in our society come from people whose eyes are blinded to the reality of JESUS & their hearts are not open to Divine revelation because they are attached to our own fleshly nature that is prone to sin & the attractions of the world system & the deceptions of the devil. We need to open the eyes & ears of our hearts & we need to receive Divine revelation & the gift of faith to conclude as St. Peter did in the Gospel, that JESUS IS LORD, the CHRIST, the Son of God, Who came into the world as our Messiah & Savior.
So let us ask God for an increase of faith & for help in opening our hearts to the Holy Spirit, so we can say with ever growing confidence, "JESUS, I believe & I know that You are the CHRIST, the Son of God, the Savior of the world Who died on the Cross for me & for all people, & rose from the dead, & I believe that it is really You Whom I receive in the Holy Eucharist." Amen.
Via email from Nilda: Deacon Tom, I agree with the above comment made by Arlene. The most important part of the response from our Lord, Jesus Christ to St. Peter is the clincher to his declaration to the question directed to the disciples:
ReplyDeleteHe said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood* has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.” (Mathew 16: 15-17)
I am in accord with Arlene’s statement that due to man’s frailty to "look at JESUS with only (their) limited human capacity they will remain confused about His true identity.” Therefore, "We need to open the eyes & ears of our hearts & we need to receive Divine revelation & the gift of faith to conclude as St. Peter did in the Gospel, that JESUS IS LORD, the CHRIST, the Son of God.”
I fully believe with your statement, Deacon that, "Our life of faith is based on the fact that we ourselves join with Peter and have made this confession of faith in Jesus. The Lord appreciates our act of faith in him, especially when we thank him for the depth of the love he has shown through his Passion, Death and Resurrection.” I must add, however, that what is most essential in this quote is that our own confession of faith is always propelled by God’s gift of grace to us, we do not earn it.
Our confession of faith must be founded upon the evangelical virtues of Love, Faith and Charity within our constant prayers, so that we may hope in the fruits of our works through God’s mercy.
In love of the Most Holy Trinity,
Nilda V., OCDS