Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:13-20
You may have found yourself in a similar situation as the disciples in today’s gospel. After engaging in some conversation with a group, someone may have said to you, “Now, who do you think you are asking us to do this?”
We have all found ourselves in situations where our words, actions, thoughts, or even desires have been questioned by another person or a group. And we may have even secretly wondered to ourselves, “Why did I say that? What was I thinking? Where did that come from?”
Answers to such questions come from years of living in relationship with others: first, our parents and family; then our school friends, teenage connections, business or school acquaintances, and our later work and family relationships. And our life of faith and prayer.
When Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do you say I am?”, many thoughts, feelings, and experiences of their past with him came to bear on their answer. In identifying him as “the Christ”, Peter speaks from his own heart and lived experience.
We too can stop and review our own lived experiences with Jesus and answer this question for ourselves. And as we bring some light to this question for ourselves in today’s reality, what implications follow for us to remain disciples of Jesus today? The question is the same, but the answers will vary depending upon our personal reality, culture, and lived experiences.
Sister Maria Kruszewski, CSFN
