Gospel: Luke 9:18-22
One day, when Jesus was praying alone, not far from his disciples, he asked them, “What do people say about me?” And they answered, “Some say, that you are John the Baptist; others say, that you are Elijah; and still others, that you are one of the prophets of old, risen from the dead.” Again Jesus asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.” Then Jesus spoke to them, giving them strict orders not to tell this to anyone.
And he added, “The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the elders and chief priests and teachers of the law, and be put to death. Then after three days he will be raised to life.”
Reflections
“Who do you say that I am.”
Fortunate are the disciples to have interacted personally with Jesus, face to face, witnessed his healing activities, and heard his preaching. (How could the Pharisees and other religious leaders miss the God-person be- fore them!)
As for us, “Who is Jesus?” The descriptions of Jesus handed down by our parents, by our religious education teachers, by the Church, etc. become real only when we experienced them ourselves. Jesus is who/ what he is said to be only when we encounter him personally in our lives. We may recall that in the Prologue of the gospel of John, it is said: “All things came into being through him” (1:3). If we are created through him, this must, indeed, say something about us and Jesus. It would say that he is in every fiber of our being and that he would be so close to us than we know. Would not this closeness reveal who he is? This closeness allows for his revelation so that we can truly say who he is to us.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019