St. Bede-St. Denis Parish Home

Dear brothers and sisters,

 

I am often struck by the certainty with which television commentators speak about someone who happens to be in the public spotlight. Everyone seems to know everything about that person, even though very few of them have probably ever exchanged more than a few private words with the individual they are discussing. Although this may be part of the rules of our entertainment-driven society, I am still surprised by how easily and superficially we have grown accustomed to passing judgments on the lives of others.

 

This Sunday, Jesus asks us what we think about Him, but He wants us to answer with depth. He looks at us in the eyes and asks us directly: “Who do you say that I am?”

 

He does not want an answer based on what we have heard from others, nor empty words, familiar phrases, or prepared speeches. He challenges us to look within ourselves and search our own personal experience for an answer that will help us discover whether He is truly someone significant in our lives.

 

Perhaps the greatest danger for Christians today is not that we may be few in number or that we may have lost influence in society. The greater risk is that we ourselves might become insignificant because Jesus no longer has a real impact on our decisions and the choices we make in life. In that case, we might become salt that has lost its flavor and light that no longer shines. If Jesus is only a memory from a time gone by, and knowing Him no longer has a real effect on our values, our behavior, or our relationships with others, how can He continue to be our strength in times of weakness or our peace in times of uncertainty?

 

“Who do you say that I am?” Peter stepped forward and courageously professed his faith in the Master. We know what happened to Peter afterward and how quickly doubts, fears, and excuses appeared. But faith is not a reward for the strong. Faith is consolation in moments of weakness for those who place their trust in God. Jesus addresses each one of us personally and awaits our response to Him with confidence and conviction: a sincere and authentic faith that comes from the heart and has a real impact on the decisions and choices of our lives. Simon Peter answered: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

 

Have a blessed Sunday!

 

 

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