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In today’s gospel Jesus asks
Peter and the other disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” This question
is central to Mark’s gospel and central to the faith of each of us.
One day we will be asked the same question.
Let us consider who Jesus is for us. Some said he was John the
Baptizer. For some people when you see one holy man, you have seen them
all. Jesus was just another miracle worker. Many still see him
that way today. They think Jesus was a great teacher, but no different
than all the other teachers and prophets. Others may respect religion,
but only as long as people don’t take it too seriously, then it just
leads to fanaticism.
Who do you say that I am? For Peter, there was only one word that could
say it all, Messiah! The Messiah was God’s anointed, the chosen, the
long awaited one. This profession of faith put Peter into a
special relationship with Jesus. But even Peter failed to
understand what Messiah really meant for the Lord. When Jesus went
on to explain how he must suffer and die, Peter argued with him.
Peter wanted a different kind of Messiah, one without suffering.
Who do you say that I am? For us, Jesus cannot be just one of the good
guys. Nor can he be our Messiah unless we are willing to learn
what Messiah means, for us and for Jesus. Our Lord doesn’t want our
respect or admiration. He doesn’t want us to feel sorry for him or
guilty for what he endured. He wants nothing less than our whole
heart! He wants us to take the time to enter into a personal
relationship with him. He wants us to come to know him, through the
scriptures, the sacraments, and through one another.
There is no way to pretend that we know Jesus. It takes time. It takes
the same effort necessary to get to know any person. It takes trust and
a willingness to be known by him. It takes honesty, not to hide from the
Lord who saves us.
Peter was close when he said, “You are the Messiah!” He just needed more
time to find out what that really meant.
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