Today’s
Gospel challenges us with the same 2 questions Jesus posed to his disciples: “Who do people say that I am and who do you
say that I am?” Jesus was widely recognized in Israel as a man of God
alright. He was compared with the greatest of the prophets, John the Baptist,
Elijah, and Jeremiah. Peter, always quick to respond rightly or wrongly,
professes that Jesus is truly the Christ. No human being on earth could have
revealed this to Peter. Only God in heaven could have given Peter such insight.
Through faith Peter was the first one to recognize who Jesus truly was. Peter's
faith was sorely tested when Jesus explained that it was necessary for the
Messiah to suffer and die in order that God's work of redemption may be
accomplished. How startled the disciples must have been when they heard these
words! Through humiliation, suffering,
and death on the cross Jesus broke the powers of sin and death and won for us
our salvation. The Lord Jesus tests each of us personally with the same
question: Who do you say that I am?
Jesus
explained to all who would listen what it would cost them personally to follow
him as their Lord and Messiah – it would cost them everything, even their very
lives! When we exchange our life for his
we receive far more that we give up. We receive pardon, peace, and the abundant
life of God's kingdom now and the promise of the resurrection and unending life
with God in the age to come. When we discover the treasure of God's kingdom –
God himself – we gladly give up all that we have in exchange for the life of
joy and happiness God offers us. God gives without measure. The joy he offers
cannot be taken away by anything negative in our lives: sadness, loss, grief,
rejection, trials, sickness or any kind of suffering. When we unite these
crosses in our lives to his own cross, we too will experience victory and
freedom.
Please
remember to mark September 29th on your calendar for the K of
C Golf Tournament and the Harvest Bazaar!
Thanks
to the Knights of Columbus for the Icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe circulating
around the Province. This prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe is the opening prayer
for the Mass on Her Feast Day, December 12.
God
of power and mercy, you blessed the Americas at Tepeyac with the presence of
the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe. May her prayers help all men and women to accept
each other as brothers and sisters.
Through your justice present in our hearts may your peace reign in the world.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever, Amen.
Fr.
Phil
