Our Lord and Savior
Today’s gospel explains the basis of our faith as acceptance of Jesus as the Christ, our Lord and our Savior. It also tells us that Christ Jesus became our Savior by his suffering, death and resurrection. Finally, it outlines the three requirements of Christian discipleship, namely, denying oneself, taking up one’s cross and following Jesus. First we hear Zechariah’s prophecy about the suffering and death of the Messiah. “They will look on Him whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born.”
St. Paul teaches us that through faith in Jesus we become the children of God. Hence we have to live in accordance with Jesus’ teachings, tearing down barriers of gender, race and class and making social justice a part of the church’s vision. As clothing covers parts of the body and expresses our identity to others, so Christ covers us and renders the differences among us insignificant. “Putting on Christ” means allowing him to begin to work in us as our Messiah, personal Lord and Savior. This grace heals us of our hatred, prejudice, selfishness and whatever else blocks “God’s reign” within and among us.
In Luke’s gospel, it was immediately after a prayer session with his disciples that Jesus asked two questions about his identity. Jesus realized that if his disciples did not know who he really was, then his entire ministry, suffering and death would be useless. Hence he decided to ask a question in two parts.
The first: “Who do the crowds say I am?” Their answer was, “Some say that you are John the Baptist, others say that you are Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” John the Baptist was so great a figure that many Jews, and Herod their king, thought that John’s spirit had entered the body of Jesus. Elijah, the greatest of the prophets was believed to be the forerunner of the Messiah. (“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes” –Mal.4:5). The phrase “one of the prophets” suggested that Jesus had a ministry like that of the former prophets. When the people identified Jesus with Elijah and with Jeremiah they were, paying him a great compliment and setting him in a high place because Elijah was none other than the expected forerunner of the Anointed One of God.
Secondly: “Who do you say I am? For the first time in their relationship Peter, speaking for the other disciples, declared publicly: “You are God’s Messiah.” Peter was the first apostle to recognize Jesus publicly as the Anointed One, the Messiah or Christ. To say thatJesus was the Christ, the anointed one of God was to say that Jesus was God who became Man to save sinners! However, Jesus was quick to explain to the disciples that he was not a political messiah who would reestablish the Davidic kingdom after ousting the Romans. Instead, he was the Messiah who would redeem mankind by his suffering, death and resurrection. Like the Suffering Servant in the first reading, Jesus accepted suffering as part of his mission and out of fidelity to the Father. Jesus’ example provides a challenge for us all to accept the mystery of the cross when our turn comes to follow the Suffering Servant by suffering with him.
Jesus emphasized three stringent requirements to be met by his disciples. ““If any one wants to come with me he must deny himself; take up his cross every day and follow me.”
Christians started experiencing persecution by the Jews and the Romans while Luke wrote his gospel. Hence, he emphasizes Jesus’ teaching that a man who is faithful may die for his faith in Jesus, but in dying he will live. The man who risks everything for Christ finds life. On the other hand the man who abandons his faith for safety or security may live, but he is actually dying. If we’re honest with ourselves, we know that there are constant opportunities for us to choose to be true to the Gospel. But the world is essentially opposed to the Gospel and those who live out its truths.
“How do I really see Jesus? Is Jesus a living experience for me, walking with me, loving me, forgiving me, helping me and transforming my life and outlook? What difference does Jesus make in my life? Who do we say that Jesus is in our daily life? Who do we say that He is when we are in the presence of those who don’t know him, those who aren’t interested in him? What does the way we live and behave say about who Jesus is? Is the joy, the love, the peace that we find in Jesus reflected in the way we live our lives? (Father’s Day)
Are we ready to take up our crosses and follow Jesus? Do we have enough faith to offer up a genuine sacrifice for Christ’s sake? Jesus’ challenge to all would-be disciples requires more than a “feel-good” spirituality. A true disciple asks, “Am I willing to sacrifice something for the kingdom?” Can we sacrifice some of our time in order to visit a homeless shelter or soup kitchen? Can we sacrifice our job security and refuse to “go along” with a policy that is unjust? Can we sacrifice our need to be in control and let Christ do with us what he will? Can we refuse to let our children watch programs filled with sex and violence?
“I hope you didn’t take it personally, deacon,” an embarrassed woman said to him after the Mass, “that my husband walked out during your homily.”
“I did find it rather
disconcerting,” the preacher replied.
“It’s not a reflection on you, deacon,” she insisted. “He has
been walking in his sleep ever since he was a child.”