He said to them,
"But who do you say that I am?"Simon Peter replied, "You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God."
Who is St. Peter?
What significance does
this question have? Today there is a lot of hue and cry over the authority of
the Pope. Imagine when you read the morning newspaper you read a headline which
says that the General of the Indian Army feels that there is no reason to defend
our country. Will we not be surprised and shocked? Same thing happens with
regard to the Holy Father and his authority. Many including Catholics and even
the Clergymen who are supposed to defend the Pope, do question the authority of
the Pope. For all these people, today’s gospel gives a clear answer. We all
know this character called Peter. He represents some of us who keep messing up
things again and again in our life. Everyone misspeaks occasionally. Peter does
so daily. He blurts wrong words like a whale spouts salt water, spraying folly
everywhere. He always hurts someone. Oh, Peter and his quick-triggered tongue.
This is the kind of person our Lord chooses to lead his Church. He gives him
the authority to bind people with laws. He gives him the keys of heaven. Keys
are the emblems of authority and this language was addressed to Peter because
of the Power that was to be conferred on him. He was to organize, toil, and
manage the affairs of kingdom as the Head, of course not absolutely but under
Christ the Head. Among the Jews when a scribe was admitted to his office a key
was given to him as the symbol of duty he was expected to perform.
Today the whole Church
is shocked and surprised with the announcement of his retirement of Pope
Benedict XVI the 265th Pope who is known for his intelligence, holiness, strong
character and erudition. There are a lot of rumours about his decision. He has
made his decision in the light of faith and he gave us all the real and valid
reason for his retirement. The moment I heard about his decision, like
everybody I was shocked and was utterly disappointed. But as I began to reflect
about his decision, I begin to see the real humility this person has in front
of God. When everybody including the clergy and religious are craving to go up
the ladder in terms of power and position, here is our Pope who just decided to
give up a post (secular term) which is the greatest post we can think of in
this world. Let us respect and believe that this is the real will of God and
continue to pray for him and for the one who is going to lead us after him.
Who do People say I am?
Any Communication gets
completed only when there is a feedback. Jesus being a good communicator wanted
to get the feedback from his disciples. Feedback can be both positive as well
as negative. He just asks his disciples to know what exactly the people think
of him. The feedback given by the disciples is quite positive. Some call him
Elijah, John the Baptist, Jeremiah. He was considered to be one of the
prophets. Surely it is a compliment for Jesus and His mission.
This is an important
lesson we need to learn from Jesus. As human beings, and more specifically as
Christians we live in communities. We do not live in isolation. Therefore we
cannot be too individualistic in our attitude. We should be mindful of what
other people think about us and our way of living. Though we do not live for
the sake of others, we also do not live only for our sake. If majority of our
community members feel that our way of life is not that okay, we need to pay
proper attention to that feedback. If many our community members point out to
us saying that we seldom attend Sunday mass, we do not live a proper life
worthy of a Christian etc., we should not ignore their view totally by shunning
them. There could be some traces of truth in that. Jesus was ready to listen to
the feedback.
We need not know
everything about us. There are certain things which only when somebody points
out to us, we will come to know. We see the whole world and the reality around
us, using our eyes, we cannot see our own eyes. We need mirror to see our eyes.
People with whom we live might serve as mirror at times. Therefore we should
also take suggestions of people into consideration.
Who do you say I am?
Last year I went along
with my friend to watch one of the league matches of IPL. I was longing to see
Sachin playing. I was delighted throughout the match and came back home
happily. Many asked me about the match and I was happy to share my personal
experience with them. I was describing Sachin for quite a long time. Suddenly,
someone a critique of cricket asked me, ‘Did you get his mobile number? I gave
him a strange look. He continued. Do you have his email id? Do you know his
house address? And finally asked me, do you really know him? This made me to
reflect deeper. I know Sachin for a long time. I know how many centuries he has
made but do I really know him? Is he related to me? Does he know my name?
We come for mass, and
sit like spectators in the stadium, sing songs if we know, partly listen to
sermons and then go away. We might know how many miracles Jesus did; where he
was born; we might know the names of his parents, and so many other minute
details. But do we really know him. On your way back home after the mass, if a
non-Christian brother/sister asks you why do you go every Sunday to the Church,
what answer will you give? Some of us might emphatically say, we go to receive
Jesus Christ. But if that person asks you again, ‘who is this Jesus? Do we have
an answer for that question? Will that answer come from our personal
experience?
Who is Jesus Christ?
To the banker, hidden treasure (Mt 13, 44), To
the builder, one foundation (Is.26,16), To the carpenter, door (Jn. 10, 7), To
the doctor, great physician (Jer.8, 22), To the educator, great teacher (Jn. 3,
2), To the engineer, new and living way (Hb.10, 20), To the farmer, sower and
Lord of harvest (Lk, 10, 2), To the florist, rose of Sharon (song of songs (2,
1). This list is endless. But Jesus asks us today, who do you say I am? If we
do not have an answer that comes immediately from our heart, probably it is the
high time to enter into a personal relationship with Him. Let us move from the
level of knowing about Jesus to Knowing Jesus.
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