The question, “Who do you say I am,” seems almost like an old gospel now. Somehow, we’ve got used to hearing preachers talk about the identity of Jesus as presented in this weekend’s gospel. However, it is important to ask ourselves who we say that Jesus is. Let's say, "Who is Jesus in my life?" It is an inevitable place to start. As Christians, we must understand Jesus in our lives. We must be convinced about his identity if we desire to do great acts of faith.
Perhaps we can stretch this conversation a little further. In the past few weeks, the apostle James has challenged us on the proper meaning of religion when he said, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (1:26-27). James further argues that faith must be accompanied by good deeds for faith to be efficacious. By faith, we identify Jesus as God, as the Christ, Son of the Living God. By faith, we believe in his mission. But James insists, “Faith without good deeds is dead.”
When Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do you say I am,” he again places the privilege of intimate relationship with him before them. That is what Jesus’ entire mission was about, bringing disciples into union with the Father. Jesus did not want to give them aspects of himself. Rather, he gave of himself fully. The same way he revealed himself to the woman at the well. The same way he saved the woman caught in adultery. The same way he made himself available to Matthew or Zaccheus. The same way he encountered the woman who suffered the pool of blood for twelve years. The same way he engaged Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. The same way he unveiled himself at the Last Supper. This is the mission, to be known by his disciples, and through him to be saved. This mission culminates in his suffering and death, the eternal sacrifice that gave life to our salvation.
Scripture tells us how best to know Jesus with the story of the disciples on their way to Emmaus: “Then the two told what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread” (Lk. 24:35). An intimate relationship with Jesus in the Blessed Eucharist is the bedrock for knowing who Jesus is. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist in Holy Communion is an intimate union with Christ Jesus” (CCC 1391). Pope John Paul 11 maintains, “The Eucharist is the sacrament of the presence of Christ, who gives himself to us because he loves us.”
We must be inspired by the Eucharist, to know who Jesus is. Each time we receive the Holy Communion, we affirm that Christ is the Lord. We recognize Jesus on the altar. The Eucharist places Christ in our hearts. We acknowledge his abiding presence, and consume him, thereby becoming abodes of God’s goodness. The words of Christ are activated in those moments of encounter with him in the Eucharist, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” Knowing who Jesus is sends us on mission.
James challenges us to avoid making an empty profession of faith, “Indeed someone might say, "You have faith, and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.” So, the question is, “Who do we say that Jesus is to the world?” How can we identify the face of Jesus beyond the walls of the church? Mother Teresa of Calcutta answered this question this way, “We must pray to Jesus to give us that tenderness of the Eucharist. Unless we believe and see Jesus in the appearance of bread on the altar, we will not be able to see him in the distressing disguise of the poor.” It is not enough to say, “You are the Christ,” if we do not see Christ in the faces of the suffering. It is not enough to say, “You are the Christ,” if we are unable to perform good deeds. Jesus wants us to shun empty profession of faith and get to work like He did.
Readings: 1st- Is. 50:5-9; 2nd- Jas 2:14-18; Gospel- Mk. 8:27-35
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