Who do you say I am?

Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary time (B)

The Gospel story describes a moment in the public ministry of Jesus. His disciples have heard and embraced his teaching, they have witnessed his remarkable miracles, they have come to know him in a deeply personal way. As they were walking along from one village to the next, Jesus turns to them and asks his them – if you like – what is the word on the streets about me? What are the people saying about me? How are they understanding my identity and mission? 

At one level is not unusual for anyone to wonder about how other people perceive them. Knowing his own identity and mission very clearly, he asks a question really as a prelude to its second part – Jesus wants to know how his closest disciples have come to grasp who he is.

So the disciples readily repeat what they have heard. The people see him like another John the Baptist, or like the great prophet Elijah. In general, the people see Jesus as falling within the prophetic tradition of Israel – men raised up by God to be the mouthpiece of the mind and heart of God.

You may recall the account of the raising of the son of the widow in Naim. In response St Luke records: “They were all filled with awe and praised God. ‘A great prophet has appeared among us,’ they said. ‘God has come to help his people.’” (Lk 7:16) Prophets were known not only as bold preachers but also miracles were associated with their ministry. 

Thus, the view of the masses was that Jesus was a prophet. Now Jesus turns his attention towards his disciples, “By you, who do you say I am?”

Peter speaks up on their behalf: “You are the Christ”. The word, ‘Christ’, means ‘anointed one’ and has a specific meaning for the Jews. Peter declares that he believes that Jesus is the Messiah. It means that Peter has no doubt that Jesus is the one promised constantly in the Scriptures as the one sent by God to save his people. He is the fulfilment of these promises. He is the one that the Jewish people have, for centuries, been waiting for.

This is a bold statement of Peter’s conviction. He is declaring his conviction that all the promises of God are being fulfilled in Jesus. They need look for no other. He is the Messiah.

If we were asked this same question, how would we answer it?
As Peter responded in accord with his background and experience, so too we would answer in terms of our own faith and experience. What key descriptor would we choose?

Let us consider some possibilities:

We could, in line with the early Church, declare: “You are the Lord”.St Peter declared at Pentecost: “This Jesus whom you crucified has risen from the dead and he is both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).  St Paul in his letter to the Corinthians (I Cor 12:3) says, “and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’, except by the Holy Spirit”. In the hymn to Christ in the Letter to the Philippians we read, “every knee should bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is lord” (see 2:10-11). Would this designation be our choice?

Another possible way of describing who Jesus is for us is the choose the term ‘Saviour’This was what the angels announced at the nativity, “today a saviour has been born for you, he is Christ the lord” (Lk 2:11). We can actually see three designations used – saviour, Christ, Lord. Here we think of Jesus the healer, saving people from suffering and disease. We think ultimately of the Cross – Jesus died on the cross to save us. We recall the words of Jesus himself, “When I am lifted up I will draw all to myself” (Jn 12:32). St Paul understood the heart of his message was to proclaim Christ crucified (I Cor 2:2).

We could summarise our understanding of who Jesus is by saying “our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”. Does this flow readily from you as you think of who Jesus is in your life?

There are other designations that Jesus used of himself that all have deep significance and may be important ways in which we describe our understanding of the significance of Jesus in our life.

For example, Jesus describes himself in John chapter 6 as the ‘Bread of Life’. This touches our Eucharistic faith. Jesus says, “He who comes to me will never be hungry” (Jn 6:35).

In Chapter 4 of St John’s Gospel Jesus describes himself as the ‘Good Shepherd’. This is a very attractive image for us. He speaks of the Good Shepherd knowing his sheep. He calls each one by name. He leads them to green pastures. The Good Shepherd will lay down his life for his sheep.

Some other titles may appeal to us:

For example, ‘Light of the World’ (Jn 8:12). Here we see Jesus in his example and teaching as enlightening us and guiding us through life. He says a truth that we readily recognise as true: “He who follows me does not walk in darkness” (ibid).

Or we have the image of the vine and branches found in John, chapter 15. We hear Jesus say, “Cut off from me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). He also declares, “He who remains in me bears fruit in plenty” (ibid). this image describes an intimate union that exists between ourselves and the risen Lord.

One final way in which the Lord describes who he is for us is one which resonates with our faith in him: “I am the way, the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6). Perhaps this captures best of all how we see our relationship with Jesus.

The question posed by Jesus in the Gospel today can enable us to pause and reflect. We are invited to explore the way that we have personally come to know him and love him. How we see him in our life.

At Mass today we can take a moment of prayer in which we imagine Jesus standing before us and posing the question personally: who do you say I am? We can respond, each in our own way.

Archbishop Julian Porteous

Saturday, 14 September 2024