Who is Jesus to us?

Sisters and brothers in Christ, in yesterday's Gospel, Herod kept trying to see Jesus but he could not. No one in his circle was able to tell him who Jesus was either because their hearts were not open to receiving Christ.

In contrast, when he said to his disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” The difference here is Peter encountered Jesus. Jesus invited them to come and follow him and he will make Peter fisher of men. Peter followed and, over time, developed a personal relationship with Jesus. As a result, he came to know and believe that Jesus is the Son of the living God.

Who is Jesus to us? Who do we say Jesus is to us when others ask us? Our answers will depend on our personal encounter and relationship with Christ through prayers and the Sacraments, especially in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Eucharist. If we cannot answer that Jesus is our Lord and our God, our Savior and Redeemer, then perhaps we need to spend more time with Him.

Like spouses who love each other and yearn for each other's presence when they are not together, our relationship with Jesus should be like that and much more. This is one of the reasons why I ask all couples going through CTBO Marriage Class to do a Guided Meditation and, if possible, before the Blessed Sacrament. This way, they come to know who this third person in their marriage is that they have entered into a covenant with.

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Gospel of the Day

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude,
and the disciples were with him,
he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah;
still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”
Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”