Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Friends,

This Sunday’s Gospel is extremely theologically rich, but maybe even more importantly, it is also very rich pastorally. It portrays a dramatically sincere interchange between Jesus and his disciples. Along the way to Caesarea Philippi Jesus askes his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” After several responses Jesus asks them directly, “who do you say that I am?”

What a question! Imagine the dramatic tension of that moment. Jesus had been with his disciples for a good amount of time now. He had taught them profound truths, worked unthinkable miracles in their sight, but was also immensely controversial. He had spoken words that could have sounded blasphemous to their Jewish sensibilities. Their religious authorities disproved of His ministry. His own family had tried to stop him at one point. But these disciples had followed him until now. Why? Curiosity? Thrill? Faith? Grace?

But now Jesus asks them point blank. After all this time together, after all you have seen, and all I have taught you, who do you, my friends, say that I am?

It is a fantastically chilling question for all of us to ponder. Most of us have been going to Mass for a long time. We have heard of the works of this Jesus. We have heard his voice through the scriptures. We have even touched him sacramentally in the Eucharist. But today he wants to break through any routines and niceties and ask, why are you hear? Who do you think that I am? Who do you say that I am.

It has been said many times that there is no remaining neutral to the person of Jesus. If he is not the Christ, then what am I doing here? But if he is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” then...?

Michael Gokie, Assistant Newman Director