Who is Jesus for You?

09-12-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Anthony Okolo, C.S.Sp

In today’s gospel reading Jesus asks His disciples “who do the people say the Son of Man is?” The disciples told Him what other people say “You are John the Baptist, others say Elijah, others Jeremiah, and still others say one of the prophets.” Thereafter, He asks them a direct question, “but you who have been with Me all this time, who do you think I Am?” Peter speaking on behalf of the other apostles said, “You are the Christ.” The second part of Jesus question was a personal question in the same way this same question is what each one is called to answer personally, “who is Jesus for you?” How do you respond to the question of who Jesus is?

There are some reasons Jesus may have decided to put this question to His disciples. “Who do you say the Son of Man is?” First, Jesus was gradually coming to the end of His earthly ministry to face Jerusalem where He will take up His cross to suffer and die in the hands of the chief priests, elders and religious leaders. So He wanted to be sure that those who have been His closest companions knew who He is and the purpose of His mission. It is very possible one can be with someone for years without knowing exactly who that person is. As a result Jesus wanted to be sure His disciples know Him. His ministry would have been a failure if the apostles did not know their master, as that would have signified the end of His ministry.

Another consideration for Jesus question would be, if they know Him as the Messiah do they understand the implication of what His messiah ship entails. Peter’s response proves they know Jesus as the Messiah without knowing the consequence of messiah ship. No wonder when Jesus explains how He would be rejected by elders, the chief priests and the scribes and finally be killed. Peter felt disappointed and could not accept the situation. Peter takes Jesus aside to rebuke Him for saying such an unacceptable thing which prompted Jesus to call Him Satan that His thinking is not as God, but as human. Anyone or anything that prevents one to respond to God’s call could be called a Satan and that is what Jesus means when He called Peter Satan because Peter wanted to obstruct Him from carrying His cross which was His call. It is against this background that the call to carry ones cross as a Christian becomes important since Jesus has led the way for everyone.

The call to follow Jesus would always demand carrying our crosses which may come in different forms. Jesus without doubt places this revelation before His disciple that following Him and being His disciple would involve such challenge and that one may not avoid it. For me, the cross is any challenge that comes to one which the person never prayed for or desired it or brought it to oneself. As disciples of Jesus the challenge of the cross comes to us on daily basis, but looking unto Jesus who carried His first led us with faith embracing any particular cross that comes our way. We carry our cross when we accept our problems and difficulties like sickness, disappointments, loss of a loved one, difficult marriage and children that come our way in this life. We offer them to God in prayers without complaints. Let us submit ourselves, our problems and the challenges we face daily to God knowing that he will help us carry them.

Happy Sunday to you all and may God Bless you.

Fr Tony Okolo