24 Sunday OT B: Knowing Christ; Knowing self
“Who do people say that I am?” If I asked you this question, a probable reply could be something like “Who cares?” or “Who do you think you are?” To second question, “Who do you say that I am?” you may just shake your head and wonder if I have lost it.
The point I am making is that the questions Jesus put to his disciples can’t be put to anyone or any group by me or even you. They are questions only Jesus can ask in a meaningful way. This is because it matters greatly who we say he is because his identity has implications for us as his followers.
This Sunday and the next two Sundays, the gospel readings from Mark are going to focus on Jesus’ identity – who he is. At the same time, the gospel passages will show the implications of Jesus’ identity for us as his followers.
Today’s episode takes place on the way to Caesarea Phillipi. Subsequent episodes of Jesus teaching on his identity will take place on the way to Jerusalem. The concluding episode will be on the Cross – where Jesus will preach his identity not by word but by action.
Jesus’ teaching in the context of “being on the way” is important to understanding Jesus’s identity and ours. The disciples do not arrive at a correct understanding of Jesus’ identity immediately. Their understanding of him and their transformation towards becoming authentic disciples of Jesus are gradual. It is a journey. The same is true for us.
We can now take a closer look at today’s gospel. To Jesus’ question – Who do say that I am – Peter responds. You are the Christ. Jesus applauds Peter for this answer. However, when Jesus explains what it means for him to be the Christ, namely, that he must suffer, die, and rise on the third day, Peter wants none of that. So, in frustration, Peter rebukes Jesus, saying it shall not be so. Jesus in turn rebukes Peter with one of the sternest responses in all the gospels, “Get behind me Satan, your thinking is not of God, but of the world.”
Peter acknowledges Jesus as the savior, but Peter wants a savior on Peter’s terms. Peter is not okay with a savior who speaks of his mission as involving suffering and dying. Peter is not okay with a savior who says, “I came not to be served but to serve and to give my life as a ransom for many.”
Peter’s struggle is often our struggle. We want a savior on our terms, rather than God’s terms. We want to experience salvation the way we wish rather than the way God wishes. We want to tell God how things should be rather than listen to God tell us how things are.
As rector of Mundelein Seminary, Bishop Robert Barron summed up the formation of seminarians by what he called the three paths. 1- finding the center, 2 – knowing that you are a sinner, 3 – your life is not about you. I think the summary applies to all of us as disciples.
If we interpret today’s gospel passage on that template, Peter has found the center, namely, Jesus as the Christ, Peter also knows that he is a sinner (cf. Luke 5), but the third path is a big problem for Peter. Its implication is putting on the mind, the attitude of Christ. It would take Peter a long time to put on Christ’s mind entirely, to make Christ’s attitude his own. Certainly, it would be after he experiences the risen Lord.
For us, the challenge is similar. It is often difficult to put on this mind of Christ, to live and breathe with heartfelt conviction that my life is not about me. So, as we start this week, perhaps you can ask yourself: how am I going to live such that my life is not about me, at home with my family, with my spouse, at work with colleagues, in the neighborhood is neighbors, on road with fellow drivers, at school with peers, etc.? How am I going to live my faith in Christ, the savior, in my attitude, my actions, and my relationships?
Brothers and sisters, that is our challenge. Let us pray to Jesus who gives himself to us in self-giving love to transform our hearts and configure them to his. We are his, and he is ours! Amen.