Wno Do You Say I Am?

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

²⁷ Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

²⁸ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

²⁹ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

³⁰ Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

Jesus Predicts His Death

³¹ He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. ³² He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

³³ But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

 

This passage reminds us that Peter was a "work in progress" in one instance receiving praise from Jesus for his bold declaration of faith, and in the other, a strong rebuke for his lack of understanding of the mission of Jesus.

How often do we have "purple moments" and find amazing insights falling from our lips, only to contradict them by our actions...We too are "works in progress" stretching the patience of Jesus, no doubt, but as with Peter, still a disciple with a destiny he never could have imagined at the time. Jesus corrects him, chides him, but doesn't give up on him and eventually places the leadership of the  mission to spread the Good News on his shoulders. So too with us, he needs us, blunders and all, to bring his message to the people of our day.. May we not let our imperfections hinder or stop us..  Peter learned and grew stronger and wiser; so can we.

Bro. Rene

​​Jesus our Teacher, you challenged your disciples to know you more intimately, and so come to recognize you as the Christ. Help us never to be content with our knowledge of you, but always to desire to know and love you more. Bring our hearts to rejoice in Peter’s confession that “You are the Christ” – our salvation and the fulfillment of our lives. Amen.

  Rev. Louis DelFra, C.S.C.

(Note: no doubt you received three slices of Daily Bread yesterday as did I.  " Who can explain it, who can tell you why?  Fools give you reasons; wise men never try"...Oscar Hammerstein)