But you, Jesus, who do you say I am?
Year A – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 16:13–20: You are the Christ!… And you are Peter!
Today’s Gospel presents us with Peter’s “profession of faith” near the city of Caesarea Philippi, north-east of Israel, in a semi-pagan region. Jesus had “withdrawn” to that area, beyond the usual boundaries of his preaching, so that he could spend time alone with his disciples. A radical change in his mission was about to take place, and Jesus wanted to prepare them for it.
In this context of retreat — Luke 9:18 even says that this happened while “Jesus was praying alone” — the Lord, who had sensed the signs of a crisis around him, conducts a sort of… “opinion poll”: “Who do people say the Son of Man is? They replied: Some say John the Baptist; others Elijah; and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” The crowds, therefore, saw Jesus as a prophet, a great prophet, but they interpreted him according to categories belonging to the past. The same opinion poll, if conducted today, would produce fairly similar results: an extraordinary man, an enlightened teacher, a revolutionary, an innovator, an idealist… Categories that are always inadequate.
Jesus continues: “But who do you say I am? Simon Peter answered: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter, speaking also on behalf of the Twelve, makes a personal profession of faith, which Jesus recognises as inspired by the Father. At this point, Jesus reveals to Peter his vocation, his identity: “And I tell you: you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church… I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Notice the symmetry: “You are the Christ” and “You are Peter”. This is not, however, an exchange of courtesies, but the revelation of a reciprocal identity.
Here we have a true investiture, symbolised by three signs: the change of name (Peter, the rock), the handing over of the keys and the power to bind and to loose. We might say that Jesus confers upon Peter three of his own messianic prerogatives: to be the Rock (see Daniel 2:31–35; Matthew 21:42; 1 Corinthians 10:4), to possess the keys of the Kingdom and to have the power to bind and to loose (Revelation 3:7: “The one who has the key of David: what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open”). In this passage Jesus, the Lord of the Church, confers upon Peter a vicarious authority at the service of his Church.
1. Who am I to you?
This question is addressed to us today. Christ does not expect the answer we learnt in catechism. It would be a mouldy answer. He does not expect an answer dictated by habit. It would be an answer without passion. He does not expect an answer produced solely by the mind. It would be a cold answer, without heart. Jesus awaits an answer born of our intimacy with him. How can we find it? Let us ask ourselves how much we are prepared to risk for him. The ultimate measure? The gift of our life! Today, Christian witness can assume, in various forms, the dimension of martyrdom. Not only in Pakistan, India, China or Nigeria… but also here in Europe, through the relentless drip of mockery and indifference. To the four marks of the Church — one, holy, catholic and apostolic — we could almost add a fifth: persecuted!
It is not enough, however, to give an answer once and for all. Life is change. In every relationship, moments of crisis arise in which we feel that we no longer recognise the other person. It is a critical moment that can become the occasion for a permanent break or an opportunity to grow in mutual understanding. This can also happen in our relationship with Christ. For this reason too, some Christians eventually drift away from him. Their relationship with Jesus becomes routine and loses its enthusiasm, and little by little indifference and distance take over. We presume that we know him and think that he has nothing more to say to us. His Gospel is like a book we have “already read”. And so, either we walk away, weary and disappointed, or our relationship with him languishes in a slow and sorrowful agony. How can we avoid this danger? We can point to two paths.
2. Keeping our eyes fixed… on the “hare”!
Do not take your eyes off Jesus! “Let us run with perseverance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1–2). A story from the ancient Desert Fathers expresses this in an amusing yet eloquent way.
One day, a young monk went to visit an elderly monk, rich in years and experience, and said to him: “My father, explain to me why so many embrace the monastic life and so few persevere; so many turn back.” The monk replied: “You see, it is like what happens when a dog sees a hare. It begins to chase it, barking loudly. Other dogs hear the dog barking as it chases the hare, and they too begin to run: there are many of them running together and barking; yet only one has seen the hare, only one keeps it in sight. After a while, one by one, all those who have not actually seen the hare and are running only because another dog saw it become tired and exhausted. The one, however, who has personally fixed his eyes on the goal goes all the way and catches the hare.” And he said: “You see, the same happens to monks. Only those who have truly fixed their eyes on the person of Jesus Christ, our crucified Lord, go all the way.”
3. Seeing ourselves reflected in Christ’s gaze
Jesus’ question continues to reach us: “Who am I to you?” Have you ever thought of asking him the same question: “But you, Jesus, who do you say I am?” Only his answer can illuminate the mystery of what we are; otherwise, we remain a mystery to ourselves. He alone can reveal our true name (Revelation 2:17), our identity. Only this face-to-face encounter can give depth and solidity to our relationship with him.
“When we approach the mystery of God, we discover our own face; when we draw near to the Truth of God, we receive in return the truth about ourselves. To profess Christ’s identity restores to us our own deepest identity… If you want to discover who you truly are, look at yourselves in the gaze of God” (Paolo Curtaz).
For personal reflection
1) In a moment of “retreat”, let us question the Lord and allow ourselves to be questioned by him: “Lord, who are you to me? And who am I to you?”
2) Let us reflect on Peter’s identity, which sheds light on the Christian vocation: to be a ROCK, that is, to serve as a support for the faith of others, despite the frailty of our own; to use the KEY of the Kingdom — the cross of Jesus — to break the bonds of slavery and unite people with the bonds of fraternity!
Fr Manuel João Pereira Correia, MCCJ
Fr. Manuel João, comboni missionary
Sunday Reflection
from the womb of my whale, ALS
Our cross is the pulpit of the Word
